Kristi Noem Files for Divorce
Former Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem has initiated divorce proceedings against her husband, Bryon Noem, after months of speculation regarding their marriage.
Noem, who also previously served as the governor of South Dakota, submitted the legal documents in Hamlin County, South Dakota on April 6. However, these filings only became accessible online this past Monday.
The divorce papers cite “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split, as reported by the Hill.
According to the documents, the couple has been married since May 23, 1992.
When a Sioux Falls news outlet reached out on Tuesday, Bryon Noem stated, “I can’t comment right now.”
Efforts to connect with Kristi Noem, who currently holds the position of Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, were not successful.
The filing came shortly after a March 31 report by the Daily Mail revealed images of Bryon Noem participating in cross-dressing during online chats with fetish models.
Kirsti Noem’s representative at that time remarked that the situation “blindsided the family” and was “devastating” for the former governor.
Just weeks earlier, Bryon had attended parts of a House Judiciary Committee hearing where Kristi Noem was testifying, which stirred up questions about Corey Lewandowski, former campaign manager for President Trump. This particular hearing reignited old speculations about Noem’s relationship with Lewandowski, who had previously been accused of having an affair with her in a 2021 conservative news report.
In response to those rumors back then, Noem had emphatically denied them, calling them “total garbage and a disgusting lie.”
She further asserted, “These old, tired attacks on conservative women are based on a falsehood that we can’t achieve anything without a man’s help. I love Bryon. I’m proud of the God-fearing family we’ve raised together. Now I’m getting back to work.”
Kristi Noem served as the governor of South Dakota from January 5, 2019, until January 25, 2025, before taking on the role of DHS Secretary under President Donald Trump.
Her controversial stance on immigration issues led to her being labeled “ICE Barbie” by critics and had given Democratic leaders more material to oppose the administration’s removal of illegal immigrants under Biden.
In early March, Trump removed Noem from her position, praising her for her service and noting her significant achievements, particularly regarding border security. He appointed Oklahoma senator Markwayne Mullin as her successor and designated Noem as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a multinational initiative targeting drug cartels and organized crime throughout the Western Hemisphere.
