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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin praised the massive security operation surrounding the World Cup and the cooperation between federal and local law enforcement as “incredible.”
In an exclusive interview with PK Press Club chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt, Mullin said he wouldn’t get a good night’s sleep until July 20, the day after the World Cup final, but speaking at Seattle Stadium, Mullin said he was pleased that security operations were going smoothly, even in blue cities like Seattle and Los Angeles. And he hopes the leaders of these cities can learn from it.
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American fans react during the march to the World Cup Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (Eric Hiller/AP)
“We may disagree on a lot of things when it comes to immigration and maybe other issues,” the secretary said, “but when it comes to protecting fans and the fan experience here in Los Angeles or other parts of the country, we’ve all really worked together and I hope we can continue that across state, federal and local partnerships. We can do good work for our cities when we work together.”
Millions of soccer fans around the world are discovering the United States for the first time and many of them, given the media coverage of the Trump administration in their home countries, seemed to be expecting a large-scale militarized security operation. But that’s not what they found.
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Fans react before the World Cup Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP)
Much of the work is done undercover or in the background, a very deliberate choice, Mullin said.
“We want people to enjoy their time,” he added. “We don’t want to feel like they’re going through a war zone, but we want everyone to know that we’re also working very hard to secure the facility. I don’t care if you’re outside the stadium or inside the stadium, but the number of officers that we have that are dedicated to this, from the federal level to the local and state level, is absolutely incredible, and we’re doing it together.”
Mullin also paid tribute to the role of fans, both American and foreign, in making this a safe World Cup and, as many have said, probably the best World Cup experience ever.
“They are so passionate about this and they love America,” Mullin said. “I mean, we see in the videos, my wife is absolutely fascinated by the amount of videos out there on social media, by the fans coming from all over the world who get to experience the greatness of America, and that’s what it’s all about. We’re unlike any other nation. I don’t care if you drive across the country from coast to coast, you see the most beautiful lands and the nicest people. And we can show that through the vision of President Trump in Trump 45 to bring the world back here to celebrate our 250th anniversary.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and his wife Christie Mullin in the stands before the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium at Seattle Stadium, July 6, 2026. (Agustin Marcarien / Reuters)
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Mullin admits he didn’t know much about soccer before the World Cup started, but like so many others across the country, he has embraced the sport and loves every minute of it, even as he and his team work 24/7 to keep everyone safe. And he’s looking forward to that good night’s sleep on July 20.
