Kristi Noem’s political career appeared in peril last spring when the then-South Dakota governor revealed in her memoir that she had once shot and killed her dog. Around the same time, Noem had to admit that, in that same memoir, she had misstated that she once met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Then again, Donald Trump isn’t the biggest dog fan. The president nominated Noem, a longtime MAGA loyalist, as Secretary of Homeland Security, and she was confirmed on Saturday by a U.S. Senate vote of 59-34. On the same day, she resigned from the governorship of South Dakota.
“As the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, I will work daily to keep all Americans safe and secure. One of my top priorities is achieving President Trump’s mandate from the American people to secure our southern border and fix our broken immigration system,” Noem said upon her confirmation.
SCOOP: Kristi Noem was so late to her own swearing-in ceremony yesterday as DHS secretary that VP JD Vance, who was originally going to swear her in, left after he had waited 25 minutes for her to show up. (Justice Thomas had to swear her in instead.) https://t.co/LRoqueScX7 pic.twitter.com/xmrOz9QqNH
— Daniel Lippman (@dlippman) January 26, 2025
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Meanwhile, Politico reported that Noem’s swearing-in ceremony started so late that Vice President J.D. Vance could not attend it. The ceremony was instead conducted by Justice Clarence Thomas and held at Thomas’ home.
“When she didn’t arrive on time to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the VP left after 25 minutes to avoid derailing his schedule, according to two people familiar with the matter,” Politico reported. According to the report, the delay was because Noem wanted to use a bible belonging to her late father, and it did not arrive in time, partly because Noem’s confirmation vote was held a day earlier than expected.
“Secretary Noem has used this sentimental bible to be sworn into every office she has ever held,” DHS spokesman Tricia McLaughlin told Politico before taking a pointed shot at the previous administration. “Secretary Noem was honored to be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home with her dad’s bible. We are grateful to the Vice President and his office and encouraged that POLITICO is finally paying close attention to a Secretary of Homeland Security. We wish they would have for the last four years.”
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
