DHS eviscerates ‘failed comedian’ Jimmy Kimmel over joke about chief Mullin’s plumbing credentials

The Department of Homeland Security hit back at Jimmy Kimmel, calling him a ‘failed comedian’ after he mocked Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s background in plumbing.

A DHS spokesperson defended Mullin’s family plumbing business background and condemned Kimmel for the joke.

‘Secretary Mullin represents the best of blue-collar America, and failed comedian Jimmy Kimmel choose to ridicule him for it,’ a spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Mail.

‘In what other country could a young plumber from rural Oklahoma get fed up one day, run for Congress, serve his community in the House and Senate, and then be called to serve in the president’s Cabinet to protect the homeland?’

Kimmel landed in hot water for the remark, with many insisting the comedian was mocking the working class of America.

During last Tuesday evening’s monologue, Kimmel blasted Mullin, who was sworn in to replace ousted Secretary Kristi Noem, and called him a ‘low-level MMA fighter.’

‘Trump’s got a whole new generation of thinkers lined up, including his newly confirmed secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne “Chuck Mike Bruce Dave” Melon – Mullin,’ the late-night host said.

‘He’s now the former senator of Oklahoma. Before he was elected to the Senate, Markwayne Mullin was a low-level MMA fighter and a plumber.’

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A DHS spokesperson defended Mullin’s family plumbing business background and condemned Jimmy Kimmel for the joke, slamming him as a ‘failed comedian’

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During last Tuesday evening’s monologue, Kimmel blasted Mullin, who was sworn in to replace ousted Secretary Kristi Noem, and called him a ‘low-level MMA fighter’

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‘Secretary Mullin represents the best of blue-collar America, and failed comedian Jimmy Kimmel choose to ridicule him for it,’ a DHS spokesperson told the Daily Mail

‘That’s right. We have a plumber protecting us from terrorism now. It worked for Super Mario. Why not Markwayne?’ Kimmel joked.

Before entering politics, Mullin had a brief career as a mixed martial arts fighter, retiring in 2012 with an undefeated 5-0 record.

He gained a reputation as a firebrand, earning induction into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016 and even challenging the Teamsters president to a brawl during a 2023 Senate hearing.

According to his biography, Mullin and his college bride took over Mullin Plumbing, his family business, after he paused his studies due to his father’s illness.

Together with his wife, he spent the past 25 years growing the business into the region’s largest service company.

Undeterred, Kimmel only doubled down on his joke, branding the new face of DHS unfit for the role.

‘But honestly – I mean, if Trump is going to keep picking these unqualified people to run the department, why not have more fun with it?’ he said during the monologue.

‘I mean, next time instead of Markwayne, how about Lil Wayne for Homeland Security?’ he added. ‘At least we can get a concert out of it, right?’

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Mullin was sworn-in in the Oval Office on Tuesday, taking over from Noem who was spectacularly fired by Trump earlier this month

The quip, however, was poorly received online as posts condemning the talk show host flooded onto X shortly after Tuesday’s segment.

‘I prefer plumbers to woke & unfunny comedians,’ Texas Sen. Ted Cruz wrote.

Wyoming Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis responded sharply, writing: ‘The disdain for which the Democrats and Hollywood elites have for working-class Americans – and folks who step up to do important jobs for their country – is shameful. These people need help.’

Representative Mike Collins did not take Kimmel’s comments lightly, criticizing the comedian in a lengthy post and accusing him of attempting to ‘demean’ men by calling Mullin a plumber.

‘The elites too often look down their noses at the blue collar, middle America,’ Collins wrote.

‘As if plumbing is something to be ashamed of or is somehow a lesser profession than a court jester turning tricks on late night commentary (comedy is dead).’

Collins said that calling a senator a plumber ‘doesn’t do him justice,’ noting that Mullin built a successful business in a competitive industry that provides jobs and food on the table for many families.

‘Plumbers, truckers, builders, tradesmen, etc built this country and continue to be a vital part of our economy’s backbone,’ the representative continued.

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On Thursday, Kimmel defended his joke and said: ‘Let me make this very clear, I’m not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber. I’m upset that he isn’t still a plumber’

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 During Mullin’s swearing-in ceremony, Trump began reading Mullin’s bio before stumbling across a surprise: Mullin is Native American

‘It’s not just jobs,’ he added. ‘It’s a spirit of actually using the sweat of your brow, determination and yes, intellect, to add in a productive way to America – a land of pioneers.’

‘Western civilization can’t survive without the men and women who provide blue collar services. Late night political commentary masquerading as comedy would never be missed.’

DHS responded in another statement that the department was ‘too busy arresting gang members, terrorists, pedophiles, racists, murderers and other criminal illegal aliens to engage in this kind of silliness.’

On Thursday, Kimmel defended his commentary and said: ‘Let me make this very clear, I’m not upset that the head of Homeland Security used to be a plumber. I’m upset that he isn’t still a plumber.

‘I wouldn’t put a plumber in charge of Homeland Security for the same reason I wouldn’t call a five-star general to pull a rat out of my toilet. OK? We all have our areas of expertise.’

Mullin was sworn-in in the Oval Office on Tuesday, taking over from Noem who was spectacularly fired by Trump earlier this month after scrutiny over her alleged affair with top staffer Corey Lewandowski, which both have denied, and other scandals.

The ‘last straw’ came when Noem told Senator John Kennedy under oath that she’d been given Trump’s approval for a $220million taxpayer-funded campaign designed to boost her national profile.

Trump announced her exit on Truth Social moments before stating that little-known Senator Mullin of Oklahoma would be nominated to become the next DHS Secretary.

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Ex-DHS Secretary Noem was spectacularly fired by Trump earlier this month

On Monday, Mullin cleared the simple majority needed to be confirmed to his post.

Democrats John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico crossed party lines and sided with the majority of Republicans to approve the nomination.

During Mullin’s swearing-in ceremony, Trump began reading Mullin’s bio before stumbling across a surprise: Mullin is Native American.

‘But as the only Native American… I didn’t know that,’ Trump said before glancing at Mullin.

‘I can tell you, he’s the only Native American in the Senate. How many have been there before you, do you know?’ the president asked, to which Mullin responded, ‘I think three.’

‘I didn’t know all these things. I would have picked him faster. If I had known, I would have made a quicker decision,’ Trump replied.

Mullin seemed taken aback that Trump was unaware of much of his background, even though the two have appeared together at countless political and sporting events, often with his family.

He is a member of the Cherokee Nation, and has supported multiple legislative efforts to help Native Americans while in Congress.

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Mullin seemed taken aback that Trump was unaware of much of his background, even though the two have appeared together at countless political and sporting events, often with his family

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Shortly after being sworn in by Attorney General Pam Bondi, he said that he would work with both Republican and Democratic states to ‘protect everybody the same’

‘I’m Cherokee, and I never knew I was special for being Cherokee until I came to DC, because where I’m from, everybody is Indian or wants to be,’ Mullin said in a 2025 press release.

Shortly after being sworn in by Attorney General Pam Bondi, he said that he would work with both Republican and Democratic states to ‘protect everybody the same.’

Taking charge of DHS, Mullin inherits a department under fire, with travelers nationwide facing long lines due to unpaid TSA staff, and ICE agents deployed to multiple airports to help manage the crisis.