Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has become the subject of widespread online mockery following the revelation of her new diminished role after being ousted by former President Donald Trump earlier this month. The ex-governor of South Dakota, once considered a potential vice presidential candidate, will now serve as the "Special Envoy to the Shield of the Americas," a position critics have derided as a made-work gig within Trump's new military coalition.
A Significant Demotion in the Political Hierarchy
Not only will Noem no longer lead her own cabinet department, but she will not even be answering directly to a department head. According to CBS News reporter Olivia Gazis, Noem will report to Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau rather than Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This structural detail prompted social media users to draw comparisons to the television series The Office, with one user joking that Noem had effectively become the "Assistant Regional Manager to the Deputy Secretary of State."
The Controversial $220 Million Ad Campaign
Noem's firing on March 5, which made her the first cabinet secretary Trump has dismissed since the start of his second term, stemmed from controversy over a $220 million DHS advertising campaign she approved. The ads featured Noem riding horses near Mount Rushmore, sparking congressional scrutiny. When questioned by Congress, Noem claimed Trump had approved the ads, but Trump publicly contradicted her, stating he was not consulted, did not approve them, and only learned about them through news reports.
"I wasn't thrilled with it. I spent less money than that to become president. I didn't know about it," Trump told NBC News, distancing himself from the costly initiative. Shortly after this hearing, Trump announced that former Senator Markwayne Mullin would take over at DHS, while Noem would be reassigned to the Shield of the Americas role. Notably, Trump made this announcement public while Noem was in the middle of delivering a speech.
Online Ridicule and Internal Backlash
The news of Noem's reassignment triggered a wave of online ridicule, with social media users posting images of clowns labeled as Noem's "new uniform." Despite the obvious downgrade, Noem publicly thanked Trump for the appointment on X, writing, "Thank you @POTUS Trump for appointing me as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas."
However, the decision to remove Noem has ignited fury among senior DHS officials, who are now challenging the White House to audit the department's advertising contracts. Sources within DHS reportedly told The Daily Beast that the White House was deeply involved in the ads, contradicting Trump's claims of ignorance. Two sources specifically asserted that Trump "knew about the campaign and wanted it to happen."
Questions Over Contract Transparency
Further scrutiny surrounds the $220 million ad campaign, particularly regarding the company Noem paid to produce the ads. This firm has links to the Republican Party and was formed just eight days before receiving the commission, with no competitive bidding process for the contract. Sources have questioned where all the allocated funds ultimately went, raising concerns about transparency and procurement practices.
The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment on these allegations, but no response has been provided at this time. Noem's transition from a high-profile cabinet secretary to a special envoy reporting to a deputy underscores the volatile nature of political appointments in the current administration, highlighting both internal tensions and public perception challenges.
