Who Is Kristi Noem? What To Know About Trump’s Likely DHS Secretary—And Her Immigration Stances

Topline

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to appoint South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as Department of Homeland Security secretary, putting her at the forefront of his aggressive planned crackdown on undocumented immigrants as Noem has made clear she aligns with Trump’s stance on the issue.

Key Facts

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.

What To Watch For

CNN on Tuesday was the first to report Noem is likely to be tapped for the role, but Trump has yet to make an official announcement. Noem, and all of Trump’s appointees subject to Senate confirmation, are likely to sail through the process after Republicans took control of the upper chamber in last week’s election.

Who Is Kristi Noem?

Noem, 52, grew up in South Dakota on her family’s ranch in rural Hamlin County, and quit college to take over the ranch as general manager when her father died. She later received her degree from South Dakota State University in 2011 while serving in Congress. Noem first entered into politics in 2006 when she was elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives. She was elected to Congress in 2010.

Surprising Fact

Beyond politics, Noem is perhaps best-known for admitting in her book, “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward,” published in April that she shot and killed her family’s puppy and goat. Noem claimed the dog was “untrainable . . . dangerous” and “aggressive” and that the goat was “nasty and mean” and “loved to chase” her children. In response to the backlash, Noem said she didn’t break the law, which she said “states that dogs who attack and kill livestock can be put down.” Noem wrote in her book that the dog killed a neighbor’s chicken. The admission was widely viewed to have killed Noem’s prospects of becoming Trump’s pick for vice president. Trump, however, defended Noem, telling radio hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton “we all have bad weeks,” calling Noem “terrific.” Noem also removed a false claim from the book that she once met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

Key Background

As DHS secretary, Noem is likely to come under intense scrutiny as she will play a key role in executing Trump’s aggressive border control policies, including his plan for mass deportations. The GOP-controlled House earlier this year impeached DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, blaming him for an influx of migrants at the southern border. Noem will also work closely with Trump’s newly announced “border czar,” Tom Homan, his former acting head of ICE.

Tangent

Trump has made several high-profile appointments to top posts in his administration since winning the election, with his first picks going to some of his staunchest loyalists. He tapped Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., for United Nations ambassador, he appointed his campaign manager Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff, adviser Stephen Miller as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., as Environmental Protection Agency administrator, and Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., as national security adviser. He is widely expected to announce Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as his pick for Secretary of State.

Further Reading

Trump’s Cabinet: Here Are His Picks And Finalists For White House Roles—Kristi Noem, Marco Rubio And More (Forbes)

Kristi Noem: I Didn’t Break The Law When I Killed Our Dog (Forbes)

Trump VP Prospect Kristi Noem Shot And Killed Her Family Dog And Goat, She Reportedly Writes In New Book (Forbes)