Political operatives with Trump ties raked in millions of dollars in commissions from DHS ad campaign

Two political-operative firms—Safe America Media and People Who Think—collected at least $23 million in commissions from a controversial $220 million Department of Homeland Security ad campaign that contributed to Secretary Kristi Noem's removal from office. Safe America Media, formed just days before winning the contract, earned at least $15.2 million through a 12 percent commission, while People Who Think earned at least $7.7 million through a 10 percent commission; both firms are tied to operatives with connections to President Trump's 2024 campaign. The companies were awarded contracts through "limited competition" based on claims of "urgent and compelling need," though a DHS memo noted their commissions were below the industry norm of 15 percent. The ad campaign, which included controversial imagery of Noem at Mount Rushmore, became a flashpoint in Congress, where senators questioned potential conflicts of interest and the campaign's actual effectiveness in immigration enforcement. Senate Democrats have requested information from the firms but have not yet received responses.