Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Moe Davis, who was appointed the third Chief Prosecutor of the Guantanamo military commissions where he served from September 2005 until October 2007, fired off a dismissive assessment of President Trump’s choice of Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
When the Senate confirmed Mullin on Monday, Davis denigrated Mullin’s credentials in a response on social media: “A plumber with an associates degree with zero military or national security experience … America is a joke.”
A plumber with an associates degree with zero military or national security experience … America is a joke. https://t.co/PY9AYpzyIz
— Moe Davis (U.S. Air Force, Retired) (@ColMoeDavis) March 24, 2026
More than one Trump supporter defended Mullin and applauded his “blue collar” background and financial success. One replied: “A plumber who turned the family business into a multimillion dollar enterprise. He’s worth about $70M.”
Navy vet Dennis Connelly replied to Davis, “Knows how to manage people and, based on his business success, likely good at picking talented, get things done people. That’s what his job is going to be. You’re familiar with A students work for C students?”
Another criticized Davis’s attitude: “Gosh, I wonder why the working class hates the Democrats.”
Mullin, who was confirmed 54-45, has critics on both sides of the aisle including Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, a Republican who voted against Mullin’s confirmation claiming the DHS Secretary has “anger issues.”
Democrat lawmakers with military backgrounds, including Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY), a retired U.S. Army Captain who served in the Iraq War, knocked Mullin for suggesting he had served in the U.S. military when he has not.
Mullin had the support of Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), the only two Senate Democrats to vote yes on his confirmation. Explaining his vote and calling Mullin a friend, Heinrich — who held Noem in low esteem — emphasized his belief that Mullin would act independently of influential DHS advisor Stephen Miller.