Kristi Noem has often struggled to keep her footing in the Trump administration.
Kristi Noem Made History as Trump's First Fired Cabinet Secretary — Here's Everything That Led to It
Kristi Noem is no stranger to controversies. During her tenure at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Secretary, she reportedly made questionable decisions. Her personal life has also been a subject of scrutiny after her husband's secret second life and alleged connections with the Bimbofication community were revealed.
In addition, rumors of an affair with advisor Corey Lewandowski added fuel to the fire.
Her eyebrow-raising time at the DHS has been considered one of the potential reasons why Donald Trump removed her from her post. It is no secret that Noem's removal from her position has been linked to the president, who played a big role in her ouster, per reports.
Noem has been a target for Democrats, and her leadership was questioned by many people within her team. She is the first Cabinet secretary to be dismissed from her position during President Trump's second term.
Now, with her ouster and Markwayne Mullin roped in as her replacement, Noem will move to a position as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas. However, Noem has, time and again, embroiled herself in controversies, putting her career at risk, as per reports.
Kristi Noem has had a tumultuous year after her ouster from the cabinet.
Spending $220 million on DHS advertisement
DHS invested millions in advertisements endorsing Trump's mass deportation plan, which featured Noem in the videos. In the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, which took place in March 2026, Sen. John Kennedy questioned her about how the advertisements align with her "concern for [government] waste" given that it was taxpayers' money.
According to CNN, Noem was questioned if President Trump had approved the ad campaign, and she replied, "Mhmmm, yes. We had that conversation, yes, before I was put in this position ... and since then as well." She clarified that Trump "tasked me with getting the message out to the country and beyond." Moreover, in a conversation with NBC News, Senator Kennedy revealed that Noem's claim that Trump sanctioned the ad campaign had "infuriated" the president.
A ProPublica probe had also revealed connections to a firm managed by the husband of Noem's ex-chief spokesperson. Noem stated she was not involved in selecting the contractors for the advertisements.
Shooting her 'untrainable' family dog
Apart from her contentious tenure, Noem had an equally debatable life before joining DHS. When about her killing her family dog began surfacing, she sparked backlash from politicians and the public. Her memoir, No Going Back, released in August 2024, derailed her prospects of being named vice president. This happened after details from her memoir revealed the extent of the controversy, per The Guardian.
In her memoir, Noem described how she had shot and killed her 14-month-old hunting dog called Cricket. She called the dog “untrainable" and "dangerous".
Kristi Noem getting grilled over killing her family dog.
Her revelation, released in her memoir, sparked immediate public condemnation, especially from animal rights activists and politicians who doubted her judgment and empathy. Noem justified the choice by stating that on farms, it is sometimes necessary to make “tough decisions.” This incident harmed her reputation, and the label has followed her throughout her time in public office.
As reported by The Independent, Julia Ainsley's recent book, Undue Process: The Inside Story of Trump’s Mass Deportation Program, sheds light on the alleged disorder within DHS under Noem's leadership. The book also revealed that Kristi Noem’s shooting of her dog made her an asset to President Donald Trump's cabinet.