Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Kristi Noem

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Kristi Noem.

Kristi Noem is an American politician who served as the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security from 2025 to 2026. As a Republican, she was the 33rd governor of South Dakota (2019-2025) and represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives (2011-2019). Her time at DHS was marked by controversies surrounding her immigration policies and the actions of ICE.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2015: Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage

In 2015, Kristi Noem stated her disagreement with Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court's ruling that same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional.

2015: Comparison to Indiana's RFRA Law

In 2015, the religious refusal law signed by Kristi Noem in 2021, resembles the 2015 bill signed into law by Indiana Governor Mike Pence. This was the first major state RFRA law signed into law in six years.

November 18, 2019: Launch of "Meth. We're on It" Awareness Campaign

On November 18, 2019, Kristi Noem launched the "Meth. We're on It" meth awareness campaign. The campaign was widely mocked, and Noem faced criticism for spending $449,000 of public funds on an out-of-state advertising agency from Minnesota. She defended the campaign, claiming it successfully raised awareness.

2019: Veto of Hemp Legalization Bill

In 2019, Kristi Noem vetoed a bill that had passed the South Dakota House and Senate to legalize hemp cultivation. She expressed concerns about normalizing hemp and its potential impact on marijuana enforcement.

2019: Anti-protest Legislation

In 2019, Kristi Noem's office collaborated with TransCanada Corporation to develop anti-protest legislation in response to protests against the Keystone Pipeline. Noem signed the legislation into law, which created a fund to cover policing costs for pipeline protests. Another law was enacted to raise revenue for the fund by creating civil penalties for advising, directing, or encouraging participation in rioting, which led the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to ban Noem from their grounds.

April 2020: Peters Receives Agreed Disposition

Around April 2020, Kassidy Peters received an Agreed Disposition regarding her real estate appraisal license.

July 3, 2020: Event at Mount Rushmore with Trump

On July 3, 2020, Kristi Noem did not mandate social distancing or mask‑wearing at the event at Mount Rushmore with President Trump present. She also publicly doubted mask effectiveness, citing the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.

July 20, 2020: Peters Receives Letter Regarding Appraisal License Requirements

Around July 20, 2020, Kassidy Peters received a letter and/or Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law after failing to meet the requirements of the Agreed Disposition regarding her real estate appraisal license.

November 2020: Tourism Promotion with Pandemic Relief Funds

In November 2020, during a surge in COVID-19 cases in South Dakota, Kristi Noem used pandemic relief funds to promote tourism.

December 8, 2020: Acknowledged 'Biden Administration'

On December 8, 2020, Kristi Noem tacitly acknowledged the outcome of the 2020 presidential election during her annual state budget address when she referred to a "Biden administration," despite later refusing to accept the election as "free and fair".

2020: Opposition to Cannabis Legalization Measures

In 2020, Kristi Noem opposed two ballot measures in South Dakota aimed at legalizing cannabis for medical and recreational use. She stated concerns about the impact on communities and children. After both measures passed, Noem and two police officers filed a lawsuit challenging the measure legalizing recreational use, Amendment A.

2020: Meeting Regarding Daughter's Appraisal License

In 2020, after Kristi Noem's 26-year-old daughter, Kassidy Peters, was denied a real estate appraisal license, Noem summoned Sherry Bren, the director of South Dakota's Appraiser Certification Program, to her office. Attendees included Peters, Noem's chief of staff, a Department of Labor Attorney, and the Labor Secretary.

2020: Legislation on Incitement to Riot

In 2020, after a federal court struck down sections of the anti-protest legislation as unconstitutional, Kristi Noem introduced legislation to repeal parts of the previous bill and clarify the definition of "incitement to riot".

2020: Noem Declines Unemployment Supplement

In 2020, sixteen weeks after Trump's executive order providing a $300 weekly unemployment supplement, Kristi Noem declined the money, citing low unemployment; South Dakota was the only state to do so. The jobless rate in June was 7.2%.

January 6, 2021: Response to U.S. Capitol Attack

On January 6, 2021, after the U.S. Capitol attack, Kristi Noem spoke against the violence, supporting peaceful protest. The next day, she called the newly elected Democratic senators from Georgia, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, "communists" in an op-ed for The Federalist.

February 8, 2021: Amendment Struck Down as Unconstitutional

On February 8, 2021, circuit court judge Christina Klinger struck down the amendment to legalize recreational cannabis as unconstitutional.

March 8, 2021: Noem to Sign Women's Fairness in Sports Bill

On March 8, 2021, Kristi Noem announced on Twitter that she would sign H.B. 1217, the Women's Fairness in Sports Bill, into law. The bill bans transgender athletes from participating in women's school and college sports teams. Critics voiced concerns that the bill could deter business and cost the state money.

September 2021: Extramarital Affair Allegations

In September 2021, conservative media outlet American Greatness reported that Kristi Noem was having an extramarital affair with political operative Corey Lewandowski. Noem denied the report, calling it a "disgusting lie."

October 2021: Committee Invites Hultman and Bren

In October 2021, the State Senate's Government Operations and Audit Committee invited Marcia Hultman and Sherry Bren to discuss the appraisal program in light of the controversy surrounding Kassidy Peter's appraisal license.

November 2021: Taxpayer Money Spent on Mansion Renovations

In late November 2021, it was reported that Kristi Noem spent $68,000 of taxpayer dollars on imported rugs from India, chandeliers and a sauna for the governor's mansion.

December 14, 2021: Bren's Testimony Before Government Operations and Audit Committee

On December 14, 2021, Sherry Bren testified before the Government Operations and Audit Committee regarding Kassidy Peter's appraisal license. She stated that Peters received an Agreed Disposition around March/April 2020, and later, around July 20, 2020, received a letter and/or Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law after failing to meet the requirements of the Agreed Disposition. On July 26, Amber Mulder requested Bren to discuss the definition of a serious deficiency, denial criteria, and the possibility of Peters taking classes and resubmitting.

December 2021: Support for Fairness in Women's Sports Bill

In December 2021, Kristi Noem and her office signaled support for a bill called "An Act to Protect Fairness in women's sports". The bill would require young athletes to join teams that align with their sex assigned at birth.

2021: Signing of Religious Refusal Bill

In 2021, Kristi Noem signed a religious refusal bill into law, amending the state RFRA to allow business owners to deny products or services based on religious beliefs related to sexual orientation or gender identity. Critics argued that S.B. 124 would enable discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, women, and minority faiths.

2021: Lawsuit for Mount Rushmore Fireworks

In 2021, Kristi Noem sued U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, seeking to have fireworks at Mount Rushmore for Independence Day. The U.S. District Court dismissed the suit, and Noem filed an appeal on July 13.

January 21, 2022: Defeat of "Prayer Bill" in House Committee

On January 21, 2022, HB 1015, the "prayer bill", which sought to reintroduce prayer in schools, was defeated in the House Education Committee. An aide to Kristi Noem admitted that no schools were consulted about the proposal.

February 24, 2022: House Resolution 7004 Introduced

On February 24, 2022, Republican State Representative John Mills introduced House Resolution 7004, "Addressing the Governor's unacceptable actions in matters related to the appraiser certification program", against Kristi Noem.

2022: TikTok Ban on State Devices

In 2022, Kristi Noem issued an order banning TikTok from state-owned devices, citing concerns that the Chinese Communist Party uses the app to gather information and manipulate Americans.

2022: Proposal for Government-Paid RV Park

In 2022, Kristi Noem proposed locating a government-paid RV park in Custer State Park. The proposal faced significant opposition due to concerns about government competition with private businesses and disturbing the park's natural environment. The House Agricultural and Natural Resources committee deferred the bill, effectively killing it.

2022: Climate Change Denial

In 2022, Kristi Noem publicly stated that she denies the scientific consensus on climate change.

2022: Revocation of Legal Protections for Immigrants

In 2022, Kristi Noem revoked legal protections for 532,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who had settled in the U.S. since 2022.

September 2023: Similar Reports Published

In September 2023, the New York Post and the Daily Mail published similar reports about Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, which Noem's spokesman denied.

2023: Tencent App Ban on State Devices

In 2023, Kristi Noem signed an order prohibiting the downloading or use of any application or visiting of any website owned by the Chinese company Tencent, including WeChat, on state-owned devices.

2023: Funneling of Funds into Personal Company

In 2023, while serving as South Dakota's governor, Kristi Noem funneled $80,000 in fees from a nonprofit, American Resolve Policy Fund, into her personal company. She failed to disclose this payment in her federal ethics filings, potentially violating disclosure rules.

January 2024: Noem's Comments on Southern Border and Drug Cartels

In January 2024, Kristi Noem stated that an "invasion is coming over the southern border" of the United States and that "the enemy is the Mexican drug cartels," which are "perpetrating violence in each of our states, even here in South Dakota ... The cartels are using our reservations to facilitate the spread of drugs throughout the Midwest."

March 2024: Noem's Comments on Tribal Leaders and Conditions on Reservations

In March 2024, Kristi Noem said there were "some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being there", but gave no evidence. She also claimed that people "who actually live in those situations, who call me and text me every day and say, 'Please, dear governor, please come help us in Pine Ridge. We are scared.'" She added: "they live with 80% to 90% unemployment. Their kids don't have any hope. They don't have parents who show up and help them."

April 2024: Reversal on Federal Abortion Ban

In April 2024, Kristi Noem announced she had reversed her support for a federal ban on abortion, and continued to support South Dakota's law banning abortion except to save the life of the pregnant patient, without exceptions for rape or incest.

April 2024: Odds of Being Trump's Running Mate Wane

In April 2024, it was reported that Kristi Noem's chances of being selected as Donald Trump's running mate had decreased due to her stance on abortion and the revelation in her book "No Going Back" about shooting her pet dog and a goat.

No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward

Check it on Amazon

April 2024: Criticism of Memoir Excerpts

In April 2024, pre-release excerpts of Kristi Noem's second autobiography, "No Going Back", received broad criticism and condemnation due to a chapter where she recounts shooting her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, and her family's goat.

No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward

Check it on Amazon

2024: Publication and Controversy

In 2024, Kristi Noem published "No Going Back", which sparked controversy due to its account of killing a dog and false claims about meeting with foreign leaders.

No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward

Check it on Amazon

2024: Ban on Foreign Government Land Purchases

In 2024, Kristi Noem signed a bill prohibiting the governments of six countries—China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela—and entities from those countries from buying agricultural land in South Dakota.

2024: Tribal Bans on Noem's Entry

In 2024, all nine tribes of South Dakota banned Kristi Noem from entering any tribal lands, prohibiting her from entering almost 20% of South Dakota. Other media reported that one of the nine tribes, the Yankton Sioux, had not officially banned Noem. The Oglala Sioux banned Noem in February, followed by the Cheyenne River Sioux, the Standing Rock Sioux, and the Rosebud Sioux in April, and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, the Crow Creek Sioux, and the Flandreau Santee Sioux in May.

February 2025: Diversion of Coast Guard Resources

In February 2025, Kristi Noem instructed the National Command Center to divert a USCG C-130 Hercules from a search and rescue mission for a coast guardsman to a deportation mission, causing strain between the Coast Guard and DHS.

April 20, 2025: Purse Stolen in D.C.

On April 20, 2025, Kristi Noem's purse was stolen from a D.C. burger restaurant. The purse contained her government access badge, apartment keys, $2,000–3,000 in cash, her passport, and blank checks. The incident raised concerns about security.

June 2025: Sae Joon Park Deportation

In June 2025, Federal authorities told Sae Joon Park to self-deport or be deported by DHS officials. Representative Delia Ramirez has since called for Noem to resign or be impeached due to her statements to Congress and wants a Congressional investigation into possible violations.

June 2025: Report on Undisclosed Income

In June 2025, ProPublica reported that Kristi Noem failed to disclose past income from a dark money group in her federal ethics filings upon joining DHS, potentially violating disclosure rules.

September 2025: Ongoing Romantic Relationship Alleged

In September 2025, New York magazine reported that the romantic relationship between Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski is ongoing, and that Lewandowski plays a significant role in running the Department of Homeland Security.

December 12, 2025: Questioning on Veteran Deportations

During a December 12, 2025, committee hearing, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner questioned Kristi Noem about the deportation of U.S. veterans by DHS. He presented the case of Sae Joon Park, a Purple Heart recipient who had been deported.

2025: Imagined Presidential Takeover and Comments About Biden's Dog

In 2025, in her memoir, Kristi Noem wrote of imagining herself becoming president, taking over from Biden, and suggesting that Biden's dog, Commander, be killed, referencing her own dog, Cricket.

January 14, 2026: Introduction of Impeachment Articles

On January 14, 2026, Representative Robin Kelly introduced three articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem. The articles allege obstruction of congressional oversight, violation of public trust, and self-dealing.

January 2026: Defense of Federal Agents

In January 2026, Kristi Noem defended the killing of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents before any investigation, leading to calls for her resignation or impeachment.

January 2026: Unfounded Claims About Alex Pretti

In January 2026, Kristi Noem made "unfounded claims" that Alex Pretti, the US citizen shot dead by CBP officers during protests against ICE in Minneapolis, had committed an act of "domestic terrorism".

March 2026: Senate Committee Appearance

In March 2026, Kristi Noem appeared before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary regarding reports of a relationship with Corey Lewandowski and misuse of government funds, intensifying criticism and leading to her removal from DHS.

March 2026: Report of Potential Firing

In March 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was preparing to fire Kristi Noem amid fallout from a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

2026: Incorrect Definition of Habeas Corpus

During a May 2026 Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on the DHS budget, Kristi Noem incorrectly defined habeas corpus, leading to a correction and further discussion on executive power. Noem's inaccurate statements about habeas corpus during the 2026 Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing sparked controversy.

2026: Allegations Against Husband

In 2026, Axios reported that Bryon Noem, Kristi Noem's husband, allegedly engaged in bimbofication role play and sent $25,000 to sex workers, with The Daily Mail publishing a photograph depicting him wearing pink shorts and a peach crop top simulating breasts.

2026: Homeland Security Controversies

In 2026, Kristi Noem's immigration policies as Secretary of Homeland Security generated controversies, particularly regarding the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).