The Trump administration’s new Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Markwayne Mullin, recently drew attention for resurfaced comments he made about a fairly controversial parenting choice.
The former MMA fighter and father of six previously met with City Elders, a Christian political activist group, back in October 2023 and shared a few stories and comments that made clear where he stood on the idea of using corporal punishment on kids.
“I do spank. I have no problem with that,” Mullin said, earning some applause from the crowd.
He also recounted stories of times he’d hit his kids: “You can’t imagine how loving they are. ... I can spank them and I’m still upset and they’ll come and crawl on my lap two minutes later and just hug on me,” Mullin said.
He later recalled when one daughter was begging him not to punish her this way: “No, Daddy. No, Daddy. No, Daddy! No! I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m sorry, Dad” when “she just couldn’t bring herself to even bend over for [Mullin] to bust her butt.”
