President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as his nominee for homeland security secretary, choosing a long-time ally to lead an agency that will be pivotal in his immigration enforcement efforts. Noem, 52, a former state legislator and four-term congresswoman, will work alongside key figures in Trump’s immigration team, including Stephen Miller, the incoming deputy chief of staff for policy, and Tom Homan, who has been named the administration’s “border czar.” Their appointments signal Trump’s commitment to aggressive immigration policies, including mass deportations.
Noem first made a name for herself in state politics and became governor of South Dakota in 2018, winning reelection in 2022. Her national profile grew significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic when she famously opposed mask mandates and social distancing measures, positioning herself as a staunch defender of personal freedoms.
However, Noem’s national recognition also came with controversy earlier this year after the publication of an excerpt from her memoir. In it, she described shooting and killing a family dog, a 14-month-old wirehair pointer named Cricket, claiming the dog was “untrainable” and posed a danger to others. The revelation sparked backlash, but Noem defended her actions on social media, stating that her book contained “real, honest, and politically incorrect stories” that would surprise the media.
Additionally, Noem faced criticism after retracting a story from her memoir in which she claimed to have met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. She later acknowledged that the meeting had never taken place.
Kristi Noem’s chances of being selected as Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate were likely dashed by a series of unflattering stories, including the controversy surrounding her memoir. In February, Noem was tied as the top choice in a poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where attendees were asked who they’d like to see as Trump’s VP. However, the negative attention she faced from the memoir scandal appeared to end any hopes of securing that position.
If Noem is confirmed by the Senate to become homeland security secretary, she will be succeeded as South Dakota’s governor by Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, a 65-year-old former state lawmaker, who will serve until the end of her current term, which expires in just over two years.
Noem, who attended Northern State University but did not graduate, returned to her family’s farm in rural Hamlin County, South Dakota, in 1994. It was that same year she gave birth to her first of three children with her husband, Byron.
Kristi Noem’s political career began when she served as a state lawmaker for four years before defeating Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin in 2010. She went on to win the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2018, defeating Attorney General Marty Jackley, and later secured the governor’s office by defeating Democratic state Sen. Billie Sutton in the general election.
As governor, Noem gained national attention for resisting pandemic lockdown measures, unlike many other governors. She also worked hard to gain Donald Trump’s favor, even gifting him a 4-foot replica of his face on Mount Rushmore during his 2020 visit for a Fourth of July fireworks celebration, an event Noem had advocated for.
In 2023, Noem chose to endorse Trump for his third consecutive Republican presidential nomination, rather than running for the GOP nomination herself. As governor, she took several controversial stances on immigration, including opposing the acceptance of Afghan refugees in 2021 and sending South Dakota National Guard members to the US-Mexico border.
Noem also established a political action committee for the 2024 election cycle, frequently supporting Trump at various events. As she made these moves, she replaced experienced staff with more controversial figures, such as former Trump 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.
In South Dakota, Noem has faced ethics complaints, notably for using her office to assist her daughter in obtaining a real estate appraiser’s license. Additionally, she was banned from all nine indigenous tribes in the state after making remarks about tribal leaders, accusing them of prioritizing profits from drug cartels over the welfare of their children.
Despite controversies, Kristi Noem has remained a loyal supporter of Donald Trump. In the final weeks of the 2024 campaign, she took part in a strategy meeting with Trump, where she questioned the findings of his campaign officials about the state of the race. Noem also moderated a memorable town hall in October, where Trump danced to music for over 30 minutes.
On election night, Noem was by Trump’s side. The following day, she spoke about his focus on addressing the impact of illegal immigration. She said Trump had heard from many families during the campaign who shared tragic stories of losing loved ones to crimes committed by illegal immigrants, such as rapists, murderers, and terrorists. Noem emphasized that Trump’s priority was making communities safer by addressing these threats.
“President Trump is focused on dangerous individuals,” Noem said. “When I was talking with him, he was focused on making this country safer.”