Where there is smoke, there is fire. And in the case of the strained relationship between Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan, the rumors denied for weeks now seem hard to dismiss.
Their differences over how to carry out President Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts run so deep that, according to a new Axios report, the two officials now barely speak or meet.
When talk of their sour relationship first surfaced a couple of months ago, Fox News reported the feud stemmed from deportation totals falling below the administration's targets. Fast forward to December, and Axios reports that while the exact reasons remain unclear, the conflict also involves a personality clash at the very least.
One administration official and two people close to the White House who recently spoke to Politico said both Noem and Homan want to be seen as the one in charge.
"Her clashes with Tom Homan are a problem. The rivalry, neither wanting to be subordinate to the other. Their insistence on independence and on being perceived as running the show," the source said.
According to Axios, supporters of both officials accuse the other of contract irregularities. Some insiders told the outlet that people in Homan's camp believe Noem's campaign-style ad blitz promotes her image as much as the department's mission, suggesting she could be using the billions approved by Congress for Trump's mass deportation effort to bolster her political future.
The report also notes that insiders have complained directly to Trump about Noem's management and the role of her top adviser, Corey Lewandowski, who has been so involved in department operations that some believe he is effectively running DHS.
Noem's allies, on the other hand, say Homan makes public appearances and policy statements without coordinating with her senior staff.
Two DHS sources told Axios that Homan's media hits are not coordinated with the department's press office and that his policy proclamations are viewed as attempts to present himself as the one in charge.
"Tom expected to have more operational control of day-to-day, and especially on contracts," one agency official said. "It's disappointing that he chooses to go after Secretary Noem when he is unhappy he doesn't have 'The Tom Homan Show' to be part of."
Rumors across Washington about potential changes in President Trump's Cabinet have spread widely, tied in part to the heavy turnover during his first administration, when he cycled through more than two dozen acting Cabinet secretaries.
But according to Axios, neither Noem nor Homan is expected to be replaced, largely because Trump has shown no desire for a shake-up.
"Kristi's doing a great job," Trump recently told an adviser unprompted, according to Axios. "Her and Tom don't get along, but they're doing great."
Another source told Axios that Trump is currently satisfied with his Cabinet. "Do I wish Kristi was gone? Absolutely. But that ain't happening. At least not that he'll tell me," the source said.
Despite the reported tensions inside DHS leadership, the White House has expressed continued support for both officials, suggesting their positions are safe.
"President Trump has assembled the most talented and capable Cabinet in American history, which includes Secretary Noem, who is doing a great job implementing the president's agenda and making America safe again," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said.
Similarly, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin has said publicly that any speculation about Noem's future as head of DHS is false. "I can't speak for the President, but I've seen more credible reporting on Bigfoot," she told Fox News.
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