President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to nominate South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as his choice for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to sources familiar with the decision.
“Kristi has been very strong on Border Security,” Trump said in a statement, emphasizing her commitment to protecting the U.S. border. “I have known Kristi for years, and have worked with her on a wide variety of projects — she will be a great part of our mission to Make America Safe Again.”
As DHS Secretary, Noem would oversee several critical agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Coast Guard.
Trump has personally informed Noem of her nomination, sources say. Though Noem, 52, has no direct experience with homeland security, she has been an outspoken proponent of Trump’s tough immigration stance. She has publicly supported the actions of Republican governors who have taken aggressive measures to curb illegal immigration, and she has criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of border security.
Earlier this year, Noem described the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border as an “invasion” and expressed her administration’s willingness to assist Texas in securing the border by deploying personnel and installing razor wire. Her comments led to controversy, with the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota banning her from their reservation in response.
Noem has consistently voiced concerns about violent crime linked to illegal immigration, claiming that criminals are flooding into the country as a result of Biden’s border policies. In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, she asserted, “He is ignoring federal law and allowing people into this country that are incredibly dangerous.”
Though she was once considered a potential running mate for Trump in the 2024 election, Noem’s candidacy faced scrutiny over a personal story she shared in her 2023 memoir, where she recounted shooting a dog that had been attacking her livestock and family. “Any mom in those situations when you have an animal that’s viciously killing livestock and attacking people it’s a tough decision,” she explained during the interview.
Noem, who has served as governor of South Dakota since 2019, previously held a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. She also served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011.
Noem has shown consistent support for Trump’s stance on election integrity, and in several interviews, she refrained from commenting on whether she would have certified the 2020 election results or whether Vice President Mike Pence’s actions were appropriate.
Her nomination comes as part of a series of appointments Trump has made for his second administration. Other notable picks include Rep. Elise Stefanik as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., former Rep. Lee Zeldin as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Tom Homan, former acting head of ICE, who will serve as “border czar” to oversee deportation efforts.
Trump is also expected to appoint Stephen Miller, a former senior adviser known for his hard-line immigration views, to the role of White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. Miller, who was instrumental in the administration’s controversial policies such as family separations and the “Muslim ban,” is expected to continue advocating for stricter immigration enforcement.
Trump has also made it clear that he plans to name Florida Rep. Michael Waltz as National Security Adviser and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.