Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) believes that Donald Trump’s choice to replace the ousted Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), wronged him in the past by saying that Paul deserved the 2017 attack by his neighbor that left him with broken ribs.

On Wednesday, Paul had his chance to grill Mullin during a Senate DHS confirmation hearing. You could tell from the start that it was going to be a rocky exchange between the two, as Paul reportedly blocked Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) from even introducing the nominee:

NEW: Per source familiar, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) blocked Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) from introducing Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) at his confirmation hearing this morning. Britt & Mullin are good friends and Britt is the Chair of DHS appropriations in the Senate. She was planning to…

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 18, 2026

She was planning to introduce him, but @FoxNews is told Paul, the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, wouldn't allow it.

Once things got going, though, Paul demanded that Mullin answer for his past statements.

I was shocked that [you] would justify and celebrate this violent assault that caused me so much pain and my family so much pain. 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?

"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

Paul, who was clearly emotional about the 2017 attack, demanded that Mullin answer him directly to his face:

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. You've got a chance today. You can either continue to lie or you can correct the record. You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified. So today you'll have your chance.

MORE: Just Who Is Our Soon-to-Be New DHS Secretary? Markwayne Mullin Has a Heckuva Backstory

The Opening Attack on Markwayne Mullin Is So Lame You Can't Believe The Washington Post Bothered

Mullin, no shrinking violet, said the two just don’t get along, but asked Paul to let him earn his respect. And we did talk about it face to face, he argued:

WHOA!

DHS Secretary nominee Sen. Markwayne Mullin fires back at Rand Paul after he calls Mullin a "liar":

"If I have something to say, I'll say it directly to your face...seems like you FIGHT Republicans more than you work with us!"

"For you to say I'm a liar? That's NOT… pic.twitter.com/Ha5ulWHZRB

— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) March 18, 2026

"For you to say I'm a liar? That's NOT accurate. And I got PROOF, you spent millions of dollars in my campaigns against me."

Mullin gave as good as he got:

I have to address the remarks the chairman made calling me a liar. Sir, I think there’s 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 could understand why your neighbor did what he did... 

Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us.

I did address those remarks… And as far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don't. 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 am a liar, sir, that's not accurate.

It’s clear that these two are unlikely to go out and grab a beer with each other anytime soon. We’ll have to see whether this has a serious effect on Mullin’s chances or is just a personal clash along the way to his confirmation.

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