South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said Friday that Democratic governors who have vowed to resist President-elect Trump's immigration policies are “grossly irresponsible” and should instead seek dialogue with the incoming administration. Ta.
“If there was a new president in the White House, even if he wasn't from my party, the first thing I would do is call him and see if we could have a meeting,” Noem said. told NewsNation.Report by Elizabeth Vargas. ”
Republican governors dismissed early opposition from Democratic governors like J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Gavin Newsom of California as “not a mature response” to President Trump's election victory.
Newsom, a fierce critic of President Trump, on Thursday urged lawmakers to convene a special session of Congress later this year to protect the state's progressive policies on climate change, reproductive rights and immigration ahead of Trump's re-election. called out.
The move, a day after the former president defeated Vice President Harris in the presidential election, effectively reignited California's resistance to conservative policies launched by the state's Democratic leaders during the first Trump administration.
It's also part of a growing debate among Democratic state officials across the country seeking to protect policies in the face of threats under President Trump's leadership.
The South Dakota governor deflected a question about his possible cabinet position, saying he was being considered for the top position at the Interior Department, saying only that “President Trump is the only one who makes that decision,” adding, “I love you.” “There is,” he said.[s] Governor of South Dakota. ”
The governor also expressed support for the Justice Department's decision to suspend the investigation into President Trump, calling it a “good first step” toward restoring trust in federal law enforcement. She said the president-elect assured her that there would be no political prosecutions once he takes office.
“Mr. Trump ally and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem could become Interior Secretary, according to a person familiar with the matter.” Wall Street Journal article He said it was announced on Thursday and considered various possible cabinet appointments.
She was the only person whose name was mentioned in the Home Office slot.
If selected and confirmed, Noem will replace Deb Haaland, the Biden administration's interior secretary, according to the newspaper.Department website“History changed when she became the first Native American to serve as Cabinet Secretary. She is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and a 35th generation New Mexican.”
The official responsibilities of the U.S. Department of the Interior include relationships with federal and tribal governments, such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education.
As governor, Noem has faced ups and downs with South Dakota's tribal governments.
She provided emergency aid after the 2019 floods, moved the state Indian Education Bureau from the state Department of Education to the state Department of Tribal Affairs, was banned from many of the nine reservations at different times, and was the state law enforcement agency. transferred funds to. The training program may hold its first-ever classes for tribal officers this year.
President Trump's campaign promise to transfer thousands of federal employees in Washington, D.C., to “patriot-led states” has also received little attention, but it also shows that South Dakota could benefit. are.
The former president won South Dakota in all three presidential elections. On Tuesday, Ms. Harris received 272,000 votes and Ms. Harris received 146,837 votes. That 63 percent is slightly higher than the 62 percent Trump received from voters in the Mount Rushmore state in 2020 and 2016.
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.
Kelo in South DakotaNexstar affiliates, and Associated Press Contributed to the report.
