Kristi Noem's Troubled Past Foreshadowed Her Disastrous DHS Tenure

The former South Dakota governor's history of incompetence, scandals, and authoritarian tendencies as state leader presaged her failed leadership at the Department of Homeland Security.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:50pm

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Kristi Noem had a long history of missteps, scandals, and controversial actions during her time as governor of South Dakota that foreshadowed her disastrous tenure as head of the Department of Homeland Security. From her heavy-handed response to protests, to allegations of cronyism and misuse of state resources, Noem's record in Pierre was a clear precursor to the chaos and controversies that would define her time at DHS.

Why it matters

Noem's appointment to lead DHS was seen by many as a reward for her loyalty to former President Trump, despite her well-documented record of incompetence and authoritarian tendencies as governor. Her failure to effectively lead the agency and her divisive, heavy-handed tactics highlight the dangers of prioritizing political allegiance over competence in key government roles.

The details

As governor, Noem took a hardline, confrontational approach to protests, such as her deployment of the National Guard to crack down on a peaceful demonstration against a Trump visit to Mount Rushmore. Her administration was also dogged by allegations of cronyism and misuse of state resources, including $8.5 million in state funds spent on commercials featuring Noem. These patterns of behavior continued at DHS, where Noem was accused of wasteful spending on a $220 million ad campaign and of labeling two individuals killed by ICE agents as "domestic terrorists" without evidence.

  • In the summer of 2020, Noem hosted former President Trump at Mount Rushmore for a Fourth of July fireworks celebration.
  • In 2019, Noem introduced an anti-riot-boosting law in South Dakota that would make it a felony for anyone to aid or abet a protester in any way.
  • In 2019, Noem and Corey Lewandowski were spotted conferring at a Louisiana fundraiser and a vizsla-breeding business in Roscoe, South Dakota.

The players

Kristi Noem

The former governor of South Dakota who was appointed to lead the Department of Homeland Security, despite a well-documented history of incompetence, scandals, and authoritarian tendencies during her time as state leader.

Nick Tilsen

A citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation and a Native American activist who organized a peaceful protest against Trump's visit to Mount Rushmore, which was met with a heavy-handed response from Noem's administration.

Corey Lewandowski

A political consultant who had a close relationship with Noem during her time as governor, with allegations that he served as an informal advisor and had undue influence within her administration.

Ben Yoho

The husband of DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin, who ran the political consulting firm that was awarded an $8.5 million contract to produce commercials featuring Noem during her time as governor.

Tricia McLaughlin

The DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, whose husband Ben Yoho's political consulting firm was awarded a contract to produce commercials featuring Noem during her time as governor.

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What they’re saying

“It's right after George Floyd, and we're in the midst of a pandemic, where indigenous Black and brown people are dying at disproportionate levels. And this president and governor, in the middle of all this shit, want to come to the heart of the Black Hills, to a place that has a deep history of injustice and racism, to spew bullshit.”

— Nick Tilsen, Native American activist

“Look, she had one of the worst responses to coronavirus in the entire world, and she's wearing that as a positive! The MAGA crowd does not give a fuck about that. As long as Noem is making the right people angry, they're happy, they don't care about failures. She's got the MAGA look.”

— Tim Miller, Former Republican strategist

What’s next

Noem's removal from her position at DHS has raised questions about the vetting process for high-level government appointments, as well as the need for greater accountability and oversight of officials with a history of controversial actions and decisions.

The takeaway

Kristi Noem's disastrous tenure at the Department of Homeland Security was a predictable outcome given her well-documented record of incompetence, scandals, and authoritarian tendencies as governor of South Dakota. Her appointment despite these clear warning signs highlights the dangers of prioritizing political loyalty over competence in key government roles, and the need for more rigorous vetting and oversight of public officials.