President-elect Trump announced Wednesday that he has selected South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (Republican) to head the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
A source confirmed the news to The Hill early Tuesday. President Trump made this official in an announcement later that day.
“Mr. Christie has been very strong on border security,” Trump said in a statement. “She will work closely with 'Border Czar' Tom Homan to secure the border and ensure that the American mainland is safe from enemies.”
Noem had previously been floated as a possible running mate for President Trump, but consideration fell through after the publication of her autobiography in which she described killing an “untrainable” dog.
Instead, the Republican governor was tapped to lead a vast government agency tasked with protecting the United States from terrorist threats, securing the border and enforcing U.S. immigration laws. President Trump also ordered DHS to carry out “the largest deportation operation in American history.”
Noem's selection is the latest sign that Trump intends to take a hard line on immigration policy, which he says will be the largest deportation in U.S. history.
If confirmed, Noem will work closely with Stephen Miller, who was selected by President Trump to be his deputy chief of staff for policy. Mr. Miller helped shape many of Mr. Trump's toughest immigration policies during his first term.
President Trump also named Tom Homan his “border czar,” welcomed back the man who was an early advocate of child separation during the first Trump administration, and discussed the administration's next immigration plan. In the midst of this, he recently said, “Families can be deported together.''
Noem has little national security experience, but she has deployed the South Dakota National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border and has been vocal on immigration issues.
“South Dakota will not accept illegal immigrants that the Biden administration wants to move. My message to illegal immigrants…if you are an American, please call me,” Noem wrote on social platform X shortly after Biden took office in 2021. I wrote it.
While in Congress, he supported Trump's Muslim travel ban and supported suspending some refugee testing.
Noem said in 2017 that she “shares the president's concerns about the ability to vet refugees, particularly those from terrorist-controlled areas,” adding, “At least until the administration recognizes that, I support suspending admissions.” Asylum seekers are not a security threat to the United States.”
Noem had previously been floated as a candidate for Secretary of the Interior.
“I love being the governor of South Dakota, and President Trump knows I will help him in any way I can,” Noem said at the time.
Noem was a regular on the campaign trail with Trump, including campaigning at one event that turned into a music listening session after attendees had multiple medical emergencies.
DHS includes a number of major public safety agencies. In addition to immigration operations, it also houses the Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
It also includes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which is tasked with helping companies prevent cyberattacks as well as attacks on their physical infrastructure.
The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
Contributed by Brett Samuels.
Updated at 7:50 p.m. ET
