Trump replaces Kristi Noem at DHS; Rep. Tony Gonzales drops re-election bid
Mullin was attending a Senate GOP lunch today when he appeared to get a phone call, then “abruptly” got up and rushed out of the room — leaving a “full plate of food behind,” according to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who said it raised suspicion among Republicans that something was afoot.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images file
NBC News spotted Mullin leaving the lunch using one hand to press the cellphone to his ear and the other hand to cover his mouth, as if he was trying to shield the conversation from reporters, and then ducked into the leadership office of Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., just around the corner from the room where the lunch was being held.
One of Mullin’s aides went to retrieve his jacket, which had been left behind at the lunch, and then two of them left the building together. At that point, Mullin confirmed to reporters that he had talked to Trump recently but said “we’ll discuss that later” when he was asked whether he was interested in the job.
When Mullin returned to the Capitol after Trump announced the news, he confirmed that was the call in which Trump asked him to be his DHS secretary. The call came from the White House switchboard, so he didn’t see Trump’s name pop up, he added.
“I’ve got to be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting the call today,” he said.
Mullin drives his own car, a Jeep, and when his aide got out of it and saw reporters gathered close by, he promptly went back into it. Mullin then decided to come out and talk to us anyway, because he needed to vote.
Asked whether he is going to the White House today, Mullin told NBC News, “I think I need to talk to my wife first.”
Credit: Source link
