WATCH: Asked about sanctuary cities, DHS nominee Mullin suggests working out 'misunderstanding'

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., asked Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., President Donald Trump’s new pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, how he’d approach so-called sanctuary cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago, that limit cooperation between federal immigration agents and state and local governments. Mullin, who’s been heavily critical of sanctuary cities, likened the disagreements between Trump and these Democratic-led cities as a possible “misunderstanding” that could be worked out. The Trump administration has been seeking to tamp down its heightened immigration crackdown after waves of community-level pushback to agents’ aggressive tactics. “I would even say these mayors, they still love their community, they still love their cities,” he said, “so maybe it's a misunderstanding we can work by, and I'm going to start with that.” Scott asked if Mullin, as secretary, would ban federal funding to sanctuary cities. Mullin said that would be a “last option,” adding that “taxpayer dollars have to be used for the right purposes.” Trump tapped Mullin to take over the embattled agency from Kristi Noem, who was fired earlier this month after her leadership came under bipartisan scrutiny during tense congressional hearings. Mullin was elected to Congress in 2012 and has branded himself as a businessman and a Washington outsider. As Homeland Security secretary, Mullin, a former business owner, would take charge of one of the biggest government agencies, leading the nation’s disaster response, counterterrorism efforts, border security and the president’s mass deportation agenda. A former mixed martial arts fighter who once challenged the Teamsters president to a fight during a Senate hearing, Mullin has pledged to stay “focused on protecting the homeland" if he is confirmed. The Republican Party is considering a pivot on how it approaches immigration enforcement as more voters grow concerned over DHS agents’ aggressive tactics, which has led to the shooting deaths of at least three U.S. citizens since Trump retook office. Watch PBS News for daily, breaking and live news, plus special coverage. We are home to PBS News Hour, ranked the most credible and objective TV news show. Sign up for Here's The Deal with Lisa Desjardins: https://to.pbs.org/41q6E8i Subscribe for exclusive content in our newsletters: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/subscribe PBS News podcasts: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts Stream your PBS favorites with the PBS app: https://to.pbs.org/2Jb8twG Find more from PBS News at https://www.pbs.org/newshour Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2HfsCD6 Follow us: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pbsnews X: http://www.twitter.com/newshour Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/newshour Facebook: http://www.pbs.org/newshour