Kristi Noem hearing live: Trump’s Homeland Security pick to face questions on bold border plans

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, faces a showdown with senators on Friday in what is expected to be a tense confirmation hearing.

The Republican’s first scheduled appearance was mysteriously postponed due to “paperwork” issues.

Now she will likely face criticism over Trump’s immigration policies, including his over the mass deportation of migrants on his first day in office.

Follow all the updates on the DailyMail.com live blog.

Kristi Noem arrives at the confirmation hearing for a job at the Department of Homeland Security

Jon Michael Raasch, American political reporter on Capitol Hill for DailyMail.com

Governor Kristi Noem has arrived at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Donald Trump nominated her to lead his border operations by overseeing the Department of Homeland Security.

Current DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached by the House of Representatives earlier this year over his handling of the US-Mexico border and immigration. However, the case was later killed in the Senate.

Noem, the South Dakota governor and former member of Congress, was once considered a contender to become Trump’s vice president.

Although she later made shocking headlines by writing in her book, released this year, that she had personally killed her unruly family dog, a strange story that earned her a storm of criticism.

Today she will face questions about that incident, her loyalty to Trump and her immigration and border agenda.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem arrives for a hearing in the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on her nomination to become Secretary of Homeland Security on January 17, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem watches the start of a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on her nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 17, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Why another ‘puppy dog’ stopped Kristi Noem from becoming Trump’s running mate, new book reveals

Another ‘puppy dog’ prevented South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem from being selected as Donald Trump’s running mate, a new book claims.

Noem was widely criticized when she admitted to shooting her 14-month-old wirehaired puppy Cricket in her memoirs released in May.

He writes that Noem, 53, was still involved in an affair with former Trump 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, 51, while Trump was running for his second term vice president.

“Within Trumpworld, people had long gossiped that Noem had a long-term extramarital affair with Corey Lewandowski,” Isenstadt wrote. “They were together all the time, and Lewandowski followed the governor around like a puppy.”

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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem defends shooting of ‘aggressive’ puppy on her family’s farm

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has defended shooting her puppy after her confession sparked a huge backlash.

Noem caused a firestorm last year after revealing that she shot the puppy, a 14-month-old dog named Cricket, in her upcoming book, No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward.

In response to the backlash, Noem said she “understands why some people are upset about a 20-year-old story about Cricket.”

The Republican continued: “The book is full of many honest stories about my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions and lessons learned. What I’ve learned from my years of public service, especially leading South Dakota through COVID, is that people are looking for leaders who are authentic, willing to learn from the past, and don’t shy away from difficult challenges.

“I hope that everyone who reads this book will understand that I am always working to make the best decisions possible for the people in my life.

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The police union is backing Kristi Noem as the best choice to tackle the border crisis

The International Union of Police Associations has thrown its support behind South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as head of Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, demanding her quick confirmation by the Senate.

In a letter to Senator Rand Paul, the new chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the union president explains why Noem is the best person to tackle an “epidemic of crime” caused by weak enforcement of immigration laws. to put a stop to it.

“The United States Senate should confirm Governor Noem as soon as possible,” Samuel A. Cabral wrote in a letter obtained by DailyMail.com.

“The border security crisis requires immediate action, we cannot afford to wait for this critical task in President Trump’s administration.

“Confirming Kristi Noem is a national security priority.”

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Kristi Noem should tell senators: Trump’s first priority is securing the border

Secretary of Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem arrives for a meeting with U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 11, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Kristi Noem will confirm that securing the country’s borders will be a top priority of Donald Trump’s administration.

South Dakota’s governor will try to secure her nomination to head the Department of Homeland Security.

“Securing our homeland is a serious, sacred trust that must be pursued relentlessly and can never be taken for granted. Being safe within our borders is an American right, yet Americans feel less safe than they have in decades. “For the first time in 30 years, more than 40% of Americans are afraid to walk alone at night within a mile of their home,” Noem will tell the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in her opening statement Friday morning: according Fox News.

“President-elect Trump is going to change that.”

I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a farmer, a rancher, a businesswoman and a governor.

I’ve spent my life in rural America. I understand what it means to work hard every day to create a better future for our children and our communities.

I come before you today with a deep sense of responsibility and humility as a candidate to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

And also a commitment to the more than 330 million Americans we will serve to keep them safe in their homes, their communities and their countries.