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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Owen Scott

Kristi Noem’s biggest controversies from affair rumor to ICE shootings and ad outrage

  • Kristi Noem, one of President Donald Trump's most high-profile Cabinet secretaries, faced a series of controversies before and during her time as Homeland Security chief.
  • Before joining DHS, she drew outrage for revealing in her memoir that she shot and killed her dog, Cricket. As DHS chief, she quickly became known for her social media posts that portrayed immigrants in harsh terms, highlighting cases of alleged criminal offenders and using vitriolic language.
  • Noem faced calls to resign in January after federal agents shot and killed two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during Operation Metro Surge, DHS’ immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
  • She defended the agents involved in both shootings and suggested Good was engaged in “domestic terrorism” and that Pretti had brandished a gun. Both claims have been disputed.
  • This week, she was confronted at a House hearing about rumors that she was having an affair with her advisor Corey Lewandowski and she reportedly enraged Trump by stating he had approved a $220 million ad campaign that faces heavy scrutiny.

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