Trump picks Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to two sources familiar with the selection.

“Kristi was very strong on Border Security,” Trump said in a statement later Tuesday officially announcing the selection.

“He will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the border and ensure our American Homeland is safe from our enemies,” he added.

Noem selected to take over agency as two prominent immigration supporters – Stephen Miller And Tom Homan – is scheduled to serve in senior roles, signaling that Trump is serious about his promise to honor his immigration commitments. By choosing Noem, Trump is ensuring that a loyalist will lead an agency he prioritizes, which is key to his domestic agenda.

The department witnessed major turmoil during Trump’s last inauguration. DHS then had five different leaders, only two of whom were confirmed by the Senate. The agency has a budget of $60 billion and hundreds of thousands of employees.

Noem, who previously represented South Dakota, will now be tasked with overseeing a sprawling agency that oversees everything from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Secret Service.

Although Noem does not represent a border state, she has a long history of taking tough stances on immigration. As a Congressional candidate in 2010 supported It’s an ultimately unsuccessful attempt by Senate Republicans to block a lawsuit filed by the Obama administration challenging Arizona immigration law. there is that too in the name To punish Democrat-led “sanctuary cities” that protected undocumented immigrants by failing to cooperate with federal agencies during Trump’s first term.

As governor, Noem clashed with indigenous tribes in her state, suggesting tribal leaders were more focused on benefiting drug cartels than their children, comments that led to her being barred from some tribal lands. As DHS secretary, Noem will be in charge of a department that deals with tribal issues.

Longtime Trump loyalist

Since taking office in 2019, Noem has established herself politically as a Trump-style governor and has long sought to curry favor with the president-elect. He is a loud rival He has stepped up Covid-19 safety measures such as mandatory masking, closing businesses and churches, and once told a National Rifle Association event that his 2-year-old grandson had more than one gun. in 2020 New York Times It was reported that Noem once presented Trump with a five-foot replica of Mount Rushmore that added his face to the pantheon of American presidents, and that Noem was one of the first governors to endorse him ahead of the 2024 presidential race.

Trump also called Noem a “wonderful person,” and Noem was once considered a top running mate as she prepares for her 2024 run. But he was eventually dropped from the shortlist and then suffered a sting. shameful political incident Following the publication of his book “No Going Back: The Reality of What’s Wrong in Politics and How We Move America Forward.” In it, he revealed that he once killed his 14-month-old wire-haired pointer, Cricket, when he was not showing signs of an ideal hunting dog.

The governor wrote that the dog was “untrainable,” according to first-reported quotes. Guard. Noem later argued These anecdotes, he said, were intended to show how capable he was of doing some of life’s most gruesome jobs when necessary.

Still, Noem remains a staunch ally of Trump. In the closing weeks of the 2024 campaign, Atlantic It reported that Noem attended a strategy briefing with Trump and questioned campaign officials’ findings about the state of the race. He also moderated a memorable town hall attended by Trump in October. I swayed with the music More than 30 minutes.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNN’s Michelle Shen contributed to this report.

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