Kristi Noem

Kristi Noem is an American politician who served as the 8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security under President Donald Trump. Before this role, she was the 33rd Governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025, becoming the state's first female governor. Prior to her governorship, Noem represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019.

Born on November 30, 1971, in Watertown, South Dakota, Noem was raised on her family's ranch and farm in rural Hamlin County. Following her father's death in a farming accident, she returned home to manage the family business. While serving in Congress, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in political science from South Dakota State University in 2012.

Noem gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for opposing statewide mask mandates and advocating for voluntary measures. Her tenure as governor included controversies, such as a 2020 incident where she was accused of intervening in her daughter's real estate appraiser certification process, leading to allegations of preferential treatment.

In 2024, Noem published her second autobiography, "No Going Back," which drew criticism for recounting an incident where she shot and killed her 14-month-old hunting dog, Cricket, due to behavioral issues. The book also contained a disputed claim about meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which was later acknowledged as an error.