
Donald Trump aides created a new diplomatic-sounding role for Kristi Noem in Washington in early March 2026 to keep her out of a Senate race in South Dakota, according to multiple administration sources cited by investigative outlet PunchUp.
The post, 'Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas', was unveiled at Trump's resort in Florida just weeks before a filing deadline that would have allowed Noem to challenge Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican already endorsed by Donald Trump.