Trump Labels Two Republican Senators ‘Losers’ Over DHS Secretary Noem Resignation Calls as Shutdown Deadline Nears

President Donald Trump criticized two Republican senators on Tuesday for urging Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign, a move that comes as the government shutdown deadline approaches Friday.

Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) were the first GOP senators to call for Noem’s resignation following reactions to Saturday’s fatal shooting of an armed protester. During a Tuesday night interview with ABC News, Trump labeled them “both losers,” adding: “You know, what can I tell you? They’re terrible senators. One is gone and the other should be gone.”

Trump has defended Noem’s work at the Department of Homeland Security despite calls for her resignation, firing, or impeachment by Congress.

“In the meantime, I have a border that’s perfect — the strongest, one of the strongest borders anywhere in the world,” Trump stated on ABC News. “We went from the weakest border in the world to one of the strongest borders in the world.”

Trump also noted that Murkowski has “always been against the Republicans anyway” and that Tillis “decided to drop out.” He said Tillis “lost his voice once he did that.”

Both senators remain active voting members of the Senate, which is considering passage of the final six appropriations bills in a House-passed omnibus package. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has vowed to force the Department of Homeland Security funding portion out of the bill, a move that could trigger a partial government shutdown lasting several days while the House is out of session.

Republicans hold a narrow majority in the Senate but remain largely united against Democrats’ latest effort to force a government shutdown, with Republicans controlling 53 seats.