'Mad as a murder hornet': Republican spills on fuming Trump before Noem firing

WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kennedy had one thing to say about Kristi Noem getting the axe: he wasn't getting "between a dog and a fire hydrant."

But the Louisiana Republican couldn't help himself.

Kennedy spilled Thursday, revealing that President Donald Trump had called him Tuesday night — after Noem's disastrous Senate hearing — already "mad as a murder hornet" and ready to send her packing.

Noem, he said, asked Trump to sign off on a massive TV spending blitz, starring herself.

"A quarter of a billion dollars — not a million, a quarter of a billion dollars — on television to promote yourself," Kennedy fumed to Raw Story on Thursday. "Gag me with a spoon, man."

The senator was careful to note that "her version of the truth and the president's version of the truth are different." He said he was unsurprised she was fired.

Reports swirled earlier in the day that Trump was particularly upset at Noem's response when Kennedy pressed her about the government-funded ad campaign.

"The $220 million contract for the ad campaign was awarded to a firm run by the husband of former DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. The ads were filmed in October at Mount Rushmore," Punchbowl news reported.

Under questioning from Kennedy, Noem had claimed that Trump was aware of plans for the PR campaign. Privately, Republicans were split about whether now was the right moment to fire Noem, the report noted.

"First, they're worried about whether Senate GOP leaders could find 51 votes for a replacement in the face of universal Democratic opposition, combined with vulnerable Republicans who may want to flash some independence. Trump's harsh immigration crackdown and ICE's operations would be at the center of those confirmation hearings."

Meanwhile, Noem's replacement, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), was caught by reporters looking like a man who had just been handed a hot potato. He found out he'd be running the entire Department of Homeland Security "a little bit before you guys did," he admitted, acknowledging he and Trump still need to "get on the same page."

On whether he'd make any changes at DHS, Mullin walked away to cast a vote.