A ‘freakin’ snake?’ Rand Paul lights into Trump pick to lead Homeland Security
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul on Wednesday lit into Sen. Markwayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, at a confirmation hearing Paul chaired.
Paul claimed his Senate GOP colleague lied about him, and he excoriated Mullin for calling him a “freakin’ snake” and justifying a 2017 attack on Paul that left the Kentucky senator with six broken ribs and a severely damaged lung.
Paul is a skeptic of use of force by federal immigration agents who killed two people Minnesota this winter. Paul tied Mullin’s comments to the actions of officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as Customs and Border Protection.
“You told the media that I was ‘a freakin‘ snake‘, and that you completely understood why I had been assaulted. I was shocked you would justify and celebrate this violent assault that caused me so much pain, and my family so much pain. I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force,” Paul said.
Mullin did not apologize for his remarks and acknowledged he’d said he “understood” the reason for the assault.
Paul, chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, also took umbrage with Mullin’s claim that he told Paul as much to his face beforehand.
“You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified, so today you’ll have your chance. Today I’ll give you that chance to clear the record. Tell it to my face, if that’s what you believe. Tell it to me today. Tell the world why you believe I deserve to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken and a damaged lung. Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it,” Paul said.
Mullin claimed he’d said as much to Paul when he was a member of the U.S. House, where he took office in 2012; Mullin was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022.
“Sir, I think everybody in this room knows that I’m very blunt and direct to the point, and if I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face. … I simply addressed that. I said I could understand, because of the behavior you were having, that I can understand why your neighbor did what he did. As far as my terms ‘snake in the grass,’ sir, I work around this room to try to fix problems. I’ve worked with many people in this room. Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us,” Mullin said.
Mullin said he was “not perfect,” and encouraged Paul to “set aside” their political and personal issues.
“I can have different opinions with everybody in this room, but as secretary of homeland, I’ll be protecting everybody, including Kentucky as much as I will my own backyard in Oklahoma. It’s bigger than the partisan bickering that we have, it’s bigger than the political differences we have. The truth is, I have a job to do, and I don’t like to fail at anything at all. So I can set it aside. If you’re willing to set it aside, let me earn your respect. Let me earn the job. I won’t fail you,” Mullin said.
Paul scoffed at the idea that he could “set aside” Mullin’s comments about his attacker. He criticized Mullin’s “sheer lack of self-awareness,” particularly as he seeks to lead an agency with more than 260,000 employees.
Mullin is nominated to replace Kristi Noem as the Department of Homeland Security secretary. Trump fired Noem on March 5.
Democrats on the committee joined in Paul’s criticism on Wednesday, but they focused mostly on his immigration stance.
They echoed broader Democratic concerns that the department has fostered an environment encouraging improper force against immigrants and protesters. As a result, Democrats have blocked federal funding absent significant reforms.
The department’s funding lapsed on Feb. 14, leaving airport security workers — the Transportation Security Administration is under the Department of Homeland Security — without pay for the past month. Airports across the country are reporting travel delays as a result.
A vote on Mullin’s nomination is slated for Thursday.
Mullin has weighed in on the GOP race in Kentucky to replace Paul’s fellow senator, Mitch McConnell. Mullin endorsed his former U.S. House colleague Rep. Andy Barr, who joined the chamber at the same time as Mullin, to claim the Republican nomination.
Paul is often mentioned as a potential candidate for president in 2028, when Trump will be term-limited from seeking the White House again. A bill explicitly allowing federal officeholders like Paul to run for president while also seeking reelection — Paul is up for reelection in 2028 — is making its way through the Kentucky state legislature.
Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect the correct number of broken ribs Sen. Rand Paul experienced as a result of an assault. Paul had six broken ribs.
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 3:34 PM.
