Trump’s Cabinet Could Include Senator Who Tried to Fight Hearing Witness: Report
If you’re in line for a position in President-Elect Donald Trump’s cabinet, you may want to brush up on your self defense skills in preparation for any future meetings. Why? Because according to a Monday report from NOTUS, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) — who once threatened to beat the shit out of a witness during a congressional hearing — may be tapped to serve as Secretary of Interior or head the Department of Veterans affairs.
Mullin, a former U.S. representative who was elected to the Senate in 2023, made headlines in November of last year after he threatened to fight Teamsters President Sean O’Brien in the middle of a Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing.
Months of social media beef between Mullin and O’Brien came to a head during the union boss’ testimony. “You wanna run your mouth? We can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here,” Mullin said of social media comments made by O’Brien calling him a “greedy CEO who pretends like he’s self made. In reality, just a clown and fraud,” and telling him to “quit the tough guy act in these Senate hearings. You know where to find me. Anyplace, Anytime cowboy.”
During the hearing, Mullin confronted O’Brien. “You wanna run your mouth? We can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here,” he said. The senator went so far as to stand up, and appeared to adjust his rings in preparation to throw a punch before committee chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) demanded the hearing return to order.
The Senator later defended his actions, saying he could have beat up O’Brein if not for “political correctness.”
Mullin’s temper has not dissuaded Trump’s circle from reportedly considering him for a position in his Cabinet. Mullin, a Cherokee Nation citizen, is a member of the Senate Committees on Indian Affairs; Health, Education, Labor, and Pension; Environment and Public Works; and Armed Services. Mullin acted as a surrogate for the Trump campaign throughout the election cycle, and worked closely on the campaign’s Native American outreach.
According to sources who spoke to NOTUS, Mullin has not explicitly indicated if he would accept an appointment to Trump’s second administration, but would definitely consider it if an offer came along.
The news could come soon, as the president-elect has already begun filling out the many positions he’ll need to staff in his incoming administration. So far, his campaign head Susie Wiles has been tapped as chief of staff, immigration hawk and mass deportation enthusiast Tom Homan has been named “Border Czar,” and Stephen Miller — Trump’s ethnonationalist former advisor — is expected to be named deputy chief of staff for policy.
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