MAGA followers are tearing into Jimmy Kimmel on social media for poking enjoyable on the new DHS secretary’s former occupation.
Markwayne Mullin was sworn in as the brand new chief of the Department of Homeland Security on March 24, changing controversial former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
On Tuesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host joked that President Trump had a “whole new generation of thinkers lined up.”
“Before he was elected to the Senate, Markwayne Mullin was a low-level MMA fighter and a plumber,” Kimmel grinned. “That’s right, we have a plumber protecting us from terrorism now.
“Well, it worked for Super Mario, why not Markwayne,” he continued.
During the present, Kimmel additionally prompt that Trump ought to have a “little more fun” together with his nominations to the DHS Secretary place.
“Instead of Markwayne, how about Lil Wayne for Homeland Security,” he requested, as a picture of Trump and the rapper flashed up on the display screen.
Kimmel added, “At least we could get a concert out of it, right?”
On social media, GOP lawmakers and influencers tore into Kimmel over his jokes about Mullin’s occupation.
“I prefer plumbers to woke & unfunny comedians,” Senator Ted Cruz wrote on X.
“The elites too often look down their noses at blue collar, middle America,” Representative Mike Collins wrote on X. “They try to demean a man by calling him a plumber.”
Journalist Chris Cillizza wrote on X, “Not a great look.”
Senator Cynthia Lummis branded the joke as “shameful” on social media.
Several X users additionally expressed their anger on the joke, with one labelling the comment “unfunny.”
“I can’t wait for the day that Kimmel will be in need of a plumber,” one other wrote.
Mullin took over his household’s enterprise, Mullin Plumbing, in 1997, in keeping with the Sequoyah County Times. At the time, the enterprise had simply six workers.
Under his management, the corporate grew to become the most important plumbing enterprise in Mullin’s residence state of Oklahoma by 2011, in keeping with Tulsa World.
However, talking on The Elephant in the Room, Mullin admitted that he “never wanted to be a plumber.”
“I’d probably say that I was a little bit embarrassed about being a plumber,” he added.
Despite that, Mullin mentioned he and his spouse had a “vision” to carry “pride” to the occupation, together with offering branded vehicles and uniforms to their employees.
In his youth, Mullin had been a eager wrestler and went on to attend Missouri Valley College on a wrestling scholarship.
However, in keeping with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Mullin determined to depart the game due to a recurring shoulder harm.
In 2016, the Oklahoma Chapter of NWHOF offered Mullin with an “Outstanding American” award, recognizing his success as a wrestler.
The now-DHS Secretary served because the U.S. consultant for Oklahoma’s second congressional district from 2013 till 2023. From 2023 till 2026, he served because the state’s junior senator.