DHS Sec Markwayne Mullin Calls Border Patrol Legend Greg Bovino “Irrelevant” and Says “I Don’t Know Who He Is” — Bovino Strikes Back and Ignites Massive MAGA Pushback (Video)
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin took a shot at a well-known Border Patrol figure during a press conference on Monday — and it didn’t go over well with a lot of people who care about securing the border.
When asked about former Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino’s criticisms of the administration’s immigration enforcement, Mullin said he had “never met the guy” and called him “irrelevant.”
Video:
Bovino, a 30-year Border Patrol veteran who served as Commander-at-Large, resigned in March after being pulled from operations in Minneapolis. Since then, he has been vocal about what he sees as the administration’s failure to deliver on the promise of mass deportations.
Bovino has praised President Trump as “the best President I’ve ever worked for,” but he has sharply criticized Trump’s inner circle — including Mullin, Border Czar Tom Homan, and CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott — for what he calls a lack of real strategy. He argues that the current “worst of the worst” approach is too limited and that the U.S. needs a much more aggressive, broad-scale deportation effort.
In a recent interview, Bovino claimed that at least 100 million illegal aliens currently reside in the United States, including visa overstays. He says treating the current situation as if it’s just a minor tweak to an already functioning system is a mistake.
Bovino didn’t hold back in his response to Mullin. He posted a clip from *Breaking Bad* with a clear message:
Video:
When you’re ready to fulfill @POTUS’ promise of mass deportations, let’s talk @SecMullinDHS https://t.co/IMmTcOrSab pic.twitter.com/uCZ9GfWdIF
— Gregory K Bovino (@GregoryKBovino) June 2, 2026
“When you’re ready to fulfill @POTUS’ promise of mass deportations, let’s talk,” he wrote.
Bovino has also been speaking overseas. Over the weekend, he appeared at the Remigration Summit in Porto, Portugal, where he criticized “timid politicians” who are afraid to pursue large-scale removals.
Video:
Trump’s team says immigration is his top issue according to the polls. Voters trust him on the border more than anyone.
So why is @SusieWiles47 pushing to dial it back and water down mass deportations?
You don’t win by running away from your strongest issue. Mass deportations…
— Gregory K Bovino (@GregoryKBovino) May 30, 2026
The exchange has sparked a lot of debate in MAGA circles. Many agree with Bovino that the numbers are massive and that anything short of real, large-scale deportations is not enough. Others see the public back-and-forth as unhelpful while the administration is still trying to get operations running at full speed.
President Trump won in a landslide on the promise of securing the border and removing illegal aliens. The American people expect that promise to be kept — and kept aggressively. Internal friction over tactics is one thing. But the core mission remains the same: America First means putting American citizens first, enforcing the law, and ending the invasion that was allowed to happen under Biden.
The debate over how fast and how far to go is real. But the goal shouldn’t be in question.
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Mark Van der Veen offers some of the most analytical and insightful writings on politics. He regularly opines on the motives and political calculations of politicians and candidates, and whether or not their strategy will work. Van der Veen offers a contrast to many on this list by sticking mainly to a fact-based style of writing that is generally combative with opposing ideologies.
IT WAS A BAD DAY WHEN HE RESIGNED. WE LOST A GOOD MAN FOR THE COUNTRY.