Staff Reports
The winds of change are blowing, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is making waves as she prepares to take on a significant role in the Trump administration. Word on the street—if one listens closely to CNN—is that she is poised to be nominated as secretary of Homeland Security. This wouldn’t just be a win for the Mount Rushmore State; it would also mark Noem as the first female governor to hold the position, which is impressive for anyone, but particularly for someone who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in the political arena.
Noem has a solid record, having been elected governor since 2019, and breezing through reelection in 2022. Prior to her gubernatorial stardom, she made her mark in the U.S. House of Representatives, not to mention starting her political journey back in the South Dakota House. With a resume like that, it’s no surprise she was once on the short list to be Trump’s running mate in 2024. However, perhaps in an attempt to preempt an overzealous publicist, a little dog incident—details surfaced from her new book—put those chatterboxes on pause. It seems not everyone can charm the media as easily as they do their constituents.
Trump has chosen South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security, Here's Your New Transgendered Male To Female SHS – They Rule Over You- Are You Beginning To get It Yet? God, I Love America- Remember "It's All Of them"🙃😆 pic.twitter.com/LSDAU0rGFb
— Quoproquid (@Quoproquid2) November 12, 2024
As secretary of Homeland Security, Noem will tackle the Herculean task of protecting the nation from a laundry list of threats, ranging from the existential to the absurd. The department employs over 260,000 individuals in various crucial roles, tasked with keeping Americans secure. From aviation security to checks on chemical facilities, their mission is serious business. Noem’s work in Congress, especially her vocal support for border security measures—including backing Trump’s controversial Muslim ban—evinces her commitment to that mission, arguing for action against entering refugees from “terrorist-controlled regions.” Nothing like a firm stance on security to get the conservatives cheering.
Despite not having direct experience dealing with border issues, Noem didn’t shy away from offering to be the delivery girl of razor wire to Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Her lighthearted quip about hopping in her truck to lend a hand demonstrates a grit that’s refreshing in a world full of bureaucratic hesitance. It’s this kind of spirited commitment that sets her apart—she’ll help ensure Abbott gets the resources he needs to tackle the southern border’s current chaos.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, while other Democratic governors like Gavin Newsom and J.B. Pritzker scramble to shield their states from Trump’s policies on immigration, Noem has called their strategies immature. She believes in a more straightforward approach: if a new president is in power, regardless of party affiliation, the first priority should be communication and collaboration. Noem’s philosophy reflects the kind of leadership conservatives value—pragmatic, proactive, and anything but passive.
Now, as she prepares to join forces with Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar,” Noem’s top priority will undoubtedly be addressing the ongoing border crisis. The chaos that has emerged during Alejandro Mayorkas’s tenure as DHS secretary begs for decisive action. With millions of illegal immigrants flooding into the United States, Noem’s pragmatic approach and firm dedication to American security might just be the ticket for addressing the impending disaster at the border. If anyone can bring some order back into the chaos, it just might be Kristi Noem.
