The elected president of the U.S., Donald Trump, has selected South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security, according to CNN citing sources close to the process. This selection suggests that Trump is committed to vigorously addressing the issue of illegal immigration by choosing Noem, who had previously been considered a potential vice presidential candidate.
By appointing the Republican governor, Trump ensures that someone loyal is in charge of an agency that is a priority for his national agenda. Noem will oversee a broad agency that includes the U.S. Border Protection system, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Secret Service.
According to CNN, Noem was considered a possible vice presidential candidate at one point, but her relationship with Trump was affected by the controversy surrounding the publication of her book "No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward." In the book, the governor revealed having to sacrifice her hunting dog, Cricket, due to its difficult behavior.
In excerpts from the book published by the press, Noem describes the dog as "impossible to train" and later justified that these anecdotes aimed to demonstrate her willingness to undertake unpleasant tasks when necessary. The governor also emphasized the importance of reducing government waste and focusing spending on core government functions, citing her management in South Dakota as an example.
