WATCH: Sen. Mullin Holds Back Tears Telling Story About Trump Supporting His Son After Serious Injury

Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, got visibly emotional during his confirmation hearing as he recounted a personal moment he said showed Trump’s character off-camera and away from any spotlight.

“I’m gonna try to get through it without crying,” Mullin said, pausing to take a sip of water before describing how his son suffered a serious brain injury. Mullin told senators his son, a “world-class athlete,” woke up “a different kid.”

Mullin said Trump called him as soon as he heard. At first, he said, Trump cracked a joke that the boy couldn’t remember his parents, but he did remember Trump was president. Mullin said the tone shifted quickly once Trump understood how severe the injury was.

Trump offered his personal plane to fly Mullin’s family to the Centre for Neuro Skills in California for treatment, the senator said. “We get there, and he called almost every day for two weeks,” Mullin told lawmakers. “And then he says, ‘I’m gonna come see him.’”

Mullin said Trump visited during the 2020 campaign stretch and kept checking in afterward. “Every week, if not most days, the president would call and ask how he could help,” Mullin said. “He didn’t do it for publicity; he didn’t do it for any show.”

RELATED: GOP Senator Targets Trump’s DHS Nominee With Vicious Attack Lines Mid-Hearing

Mullin said Trump answered his own question: “‘Because he loves you. Because of you.’”

“Here’s the president of the United States, and he did it just because he cared,” Mullin said, adding that they had only been acquaintances before the ordeal but became friends afterward.

RELATED: WATCH: DHS Nominee Markwayne Mullin Breaks Down In Tears During Confirmation Hearing

The hearing comes as Homeland Security remains at the center of Washington’s biggest fights, from immigration enforcement to threats at home. Republicans argue Democrats are playing politics with DHS funding, while Democrats say they want changes to enforcement tactics. If confirmed, Mullin would take over a massive department that includes border operations, counterterror work and FEMA’s disaster response mission, all as the national security climate remains tense.

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