South Dakota's capital city, Pierre, will soon host a life-size bronze statue of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, despite her recent firing from President Donald Trump's cabinet. The statue, created by local sculptor John Lopez, is set to be unveiled on 12 June as part of the Trail of Governors, an art installation featuring over 30 former state leaders.
The Trail of Governors Foundation announced the unveiling on 9 March, just days after Trump dismissed Noem from his administration. She had served as South Dakota's first female governor from 2019 until 2025, when she was appointed to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Her tenure ended abruptly amid a series of contentious congressional hearings.
During those hearings, lawmakers questioned Noem about the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, as well as a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign that featured her on horseback. She was also pressed on an alleged affair with her top adviser, Corey Lewandowski, which both have denied.
Noem's husband, Bryon Noem, has also faced scrutiny following a report by The Daily Mail alleging he engaged in a 'bimbofication' fetish and sent thousands of pounds to women online. Mr Noem described the claims as 'not all true', while the former DHS secretary was said to have been 'blindsided' by the report.
The statue, funded entirely by donations, will include a bronze plaque acknowledging major donors and a QR code linking to Noem's biography. It joins 31 other statues along the trail, which winds through the capital city's downtown and state capitol grounds.
