Laura Loomer publicly declares she wants to lead the Department of Homeland Security

On Wednesday, controversial activist Laura Loomer used her X account to claim she would make a strong DHS secretary, pledging to militarize ICE to expel illegal migrants and perceived jihadist threats. She directed the post at Donald Trump, but it is unclear whether any discussion has taken place. Her ambition surfaces after ICE logged about 51,000 arrests in July, the highest monthly total in the agency’s history, even as deportations have not risen significantly.

Current secretary Markwayne Mullin, who succeeded Kristi Noem earlier this year, faces criticism from figures like Steve Bannon and Gregory Bovino, who argue he is too moderate on deportations. Loomer has a history of aligning with Trump and promoting conspiracy theories, and she recently altered her stance on the Ukraine war after experiencing an air raid there. The push for a more aggressive immigration stance reflects ongoing tensions within the Republican Party over enforcement policy.