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Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) confronted Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary nominee Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) over past comments stemming from the time Paul was attacked by his neighbor.
“So, today, Markwayne Mullin, I’ll give you a chance. Tell it to my face. Tell the world why you believe I deserved 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.
In his statement, Paul accused Mullin of calling him a “freaking snake” and saying he “completely understood why I had been assaulted.”
“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 continued.
“You went on to brag that you had already told me to my face that you completely understood and approved of the assault. Well, that’s a lie,” he said.
“You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me the assault was justified. So, today, you’ll have your chance,” Paul continued.
“And while you’re at it, explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper example for ICE and Border Patrol agents. Explain to the American public how a man who has no regrets about brawling in a Senate committee can set a proper example for over 250,000 men and women who work at the Department of Homeland Security,” he added.
Watch below:
"So, today, Markwayne Mullin, I’ll give you a chance. Tell it to my face. Tell the world why you believe I deserved to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken, and a damaged lung. Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it." pic.twitter.com/wodEs9Hc9O
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) March 18, 2026
The Hill shared further:
Mullin addressed Paul at the top of his opening statement, saying Paul seems to work against the GOP more than he works with them.
“I have to address the remarks the chairman made, calling me a liar. 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. If you recall back in my House days we actually did have this conversation. … 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.
“And as far as me saying that I invoke violence — I don’t think anybody should be hit by surprise. I don’t like that. But if I do have something to say, everybody in this room knows. I’ll come straight to you, I’ll say it publicly and I’ll say it privately, but I’ll never say it behind your back. So for you to say I’m a liar, sir, that’s not accurate.”
Mullin said he hopes they can get past the “political differences we have” and said “I’ve had to really pray about my attitude.”
“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,” Mullin said.
Paul did not back down in his first set of questioning.
“You’re unrepentant. The only thing you quibble about is whether I met you somehow when you’re in the House. I don’t think we ever met when you were in the House. And this idea that the only thing you’re upset about is not that you were for violence. What you’re upset about is that I called you a liar because you said it to my face. It’s really more about this machismo that you have,” Paul said.
Watch some of the exchange below:
RAND PAUL: You offered no apology. And you offer no apology today, and no regrets
MARKWAYNE MULLIN: I'm not apologizing for pointing out your character
PAUL: You want people to know you supported a felonious, violent attack on me from behind
MULLIN: I did not say I supported… pic.twitter.com/K02i3PWIpZ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 18, 2026
At the hearing, Paul showed footage of Mullin nearly fighting Sean O’Brien, the general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, in a Senate committee.
Mullin said he and O’Brien, who sat behind Mullin at his confirmation hearing, had “shaken hands” since the incident.
Mullin called O’Brien a “close friend.”
Footage below:
JUST NOW: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is going ALL-OUT to try to tank the nomination of Markwayne Mullin to DHS
Paul just played a clip where Mullin said "stand your butt up then" in a heated exchange
MULLIN: "Both of us have shaken hands [since then] and agreed we could've done… pic.twitter.com/O9VPrULHJ5
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 18, 2026
JUST NOW: Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is going ALL-OUT to try to tank the nomination of Markwayne Mullin to DHSAccording to Fox News congressional correspondent Bill Melugin, Paul blocked Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) from introducing Mullin at his hearing.
“Rand Paul has become completely blinded by his hatred of President Trump and petty personal squabbles. His actions today were those of a seething snake—and a hopeless hypocrite. What kind of free speech advocate would bar Senator Mullin’s choice to deliver his introduction from speaking? What kind of Republican would bar a fellow Republican Senator from voicing their support of a colleague? Why is this guy allowed to hold a Republican gavel anymore?” a senior Senate GOP source told the outlet.
Three sources familiar now confirm to @FoxNews that Sen. Paul (R-KY) blocked Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) from introducing Mullin at his hearing.
Statement to FOX via senior Senate GOP source familiar with the situation:
"Rand Paul has become completely blinded by his hatred of…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 18, 2026
Paul said he would vote ‘nay’ on confirming Mullin as DHS secretary.
Watch below:
Rand Paul says he’s a no on MarkWayne Mullin: I don't know how he could, from my point of view, be a leader of ICE or border patrol pic.twitter.com/tgd84ZDSX4
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 18, 2026
“If you celebrate assaulting political opponents, you have no business setting the use-of-force standard for 250,000 law enforcement officers,” Paul said.
If you celebrate assaulting political opponents, you have no business setting the use-of-force standard for 250,000 law enforcement officers.https://t.co/2u4j88FiAz
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 18, 2026
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) defended Mullin, saying he’s a “good man” who talks “from the heart.”
“Do you pledge to support and defend the United States of America nearly as much as you would protect and defend your family?” Moreno asked.
“Without doubt, sir. Yes,” Mullin responded.
“So I’m going to ruin everything for the audience. You will be confirmed. You will have the job and you’re going to make this country safer and better. And for that, I thank you and thank your family for supporting you,” Moreno said.
Watch below:
"You WILL be confirmed!"
"You're a good man…you talk from the heart. And that's okay. You are who you are!"
"You don't apologize for being yourself. And… pic.twitter.com/E4HoazEKtR
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 18, 2026
Fox News has more:
Mullin acknowledged about Paul, “We just don’t get along,” and saying Paul has “spent millions of dollars in my campaigns against me.”
“That doesn’t keep me at all from doing my job,” Mullin continued. “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. I’m going to earn the job. I won’t fail you. I won’t back down from a challenge. And I’ll also admit when I’m wrong. I’m not perfect. I don’t claim to be perfect. I make mistakes just like anybody else. But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them and you can move ahead. And I’ll make that commitment to you.”
Paul showed no interest in setting the feud aside.