The South Dakota governor is a longtime supporter of the president-elect and his stance on immigration and border security.
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
If confirmed by the Senate, Noem stands to play a pivotal part in Trump’s border security overhaul, which he has said will include “the largest deportation operation” in American history.
“I am honored and humbled that President Donald J. Trump has selected me to be the Secretary of Homeland Security,” Noem said in an X post following the president-elect’s announcement on Nov. 12.
“I look forward to working with Border Czar Tom Homan to make America SAFE again. With Donald Trump, we will secure the border and restore safety to American communities so families will again have the opportunity to pursue the American Dream.”
Besides border security, the Department of Homeland Security encompasses several agencies, including the Secret Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Here are five things to know about the Republican governor.
A Lifelong Rancher
Noem, 52, is a native of Watertown, South Dakota, and grew up on a ranch and farm. After her father’s untimely death in a farming accident, she took over the family business.
The mother of three was first elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2006. She held the seat for two terms before clinching South Dakota’s at-large seat in the U.S. House in 2010.
Noem served four terms as a member of Congress until her successful bid to become South Dakota’s first female governor in 2018. She won a second term in 2022 after fending off a primary challenge from Republican state Rep. Steven Haugaard and handily defeating Democratic state Rep. Jamie Smith in the general election.
Proponent of Limited Government
Noem rose to national prominence among Republicans when she elected to keep businesses in her state open during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eschewing the lockdowns and mandates embraced by other governors, she advocated for limited government intervention.
