Former South Dakota Mayor Launches Scathing Critique of Kristi Noem's Governorship
Kristi Noem's time as governor of South Dakota has been subjected to renewed and intense criticism from a former local mayor, who asserted she "did a 'Sarah Palin' and quit." This sharp rebuke emerges merely days after President Donald Trump terminated her from her role as Homeland Security secretary, marking a dramatic fall from grace for the once-prominent political figure.
Noem's Dismissal and Gubernatorial Legacy Under Fire
Noem, who served as the governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025, achieved the dubious distinction of becoming the first cabinet member to be fired by Trump during his second presidential term. This embarrassing dismissal unfolded against a backdrop of escalating scrutiny concerning several contentious issues. These included her administration's aggressive immigration operations nationwide, the Department of Homeland Security's controversial acquisition of multiple luxury jets for staff use, significant reductions in Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel, and persistent rumors of an extramarital affair with her adviser, Corey Lewandowski.
Mike Levsen, the former mayor of Aberdeen in South Dakota, Noem's home state, expressed that her firing was entirely predictable. He attributed this to her "lack of any significant accomplishment" throughout her six-year gubernatorial tenure. In a candid blog post, Levsen drew a direct parallel between Noem and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who infamously resigned midway through her first term. "The Noem governorship covered six years — then did a 'Sarah Palin' and quit," Levsen wrote, encapsulating his critique of her political trajectory.
A Catalogue of Controversies and Failures
Levsen's condemnation extended to a detailed list of perceived failures during Noem's leadership in South Dakota. He highlighted a legacy characterised by minimal engagement with the state legislature, frequent absences from official duties, a pronounced lack of governmental transparency, repeated operational errors, alarmingly high staff turnover rates, and multiple instances of self-dealing that benefited both herself and her family members.
Particular scorn was reserved for Noem's Covid-19 era advertising campaign, titled "Freedom Works Here." Levsen derided this initiative as a "Trump-based ploy that likely contributed to South Dakota's listing high on some periodical per capita death lists." The campaign, which aimed to attract new residents to the state with a $6.5 million price tag, was reportedly fraught with operational "hurdles," as documented by South Dakota News Watch at the time.
Furthermore, Levsen pointed to Noem's severely strained relationship with tribal governments. This discord culminated in 2024 when all nine of South Dakota's indigenous tribes collectively voted to ban Noem from their lands, a significant rebuke reported by CNN. Levsen posed a pointed rhetorical question in his post: "Is there a single thing in South Dakota now better as a result of her time in office?"
The Final Straw: DHS Tenure and Trump's Decision
Noem's dismissal from the Department of Homeland Security followed mounting scrutiny over the disastrous fallout from Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This controversial operation resulted in the fatal shootings of two American citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, during confrontations with federal agents. Noem controversially labelled the two individuals as domestic terrorists and has steadfastly refused to apologise for these remarks.
Her tenure at DHS was further marred by fierce criticism over the purchase of luxury jets, a colossal $220 million advertising campaign, severe gutting of FEMA's capabilities, and the persistent rumors regarding her alleged affair with Lewandowski. The final catalyst for her removal appears to have been her congressional testimony last week, where lawmakers from both major political parties lambasted her management style and professional judgment.
A day following her second hearing, President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Noem was being removed from DHS. He simultaneously nominated Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as her replacement. An administration official, speaking to NBC News, clarified that the president's decision was due to "a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures." These failures explicitly included the Minnesota fallout, the costly ad campaign, allegations of infidelity, profound staff mismanagement, and her constant feuding with leaders of other agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"Kristi’s drama sadly overshadowed and distracted from the Administration’s extremely popular immigration agenda, which will continue full force," the official added, underscoring the political rationale behind the move.
Aftermath and a New Role
Prior to her firing, Noem had vigorously defended her performance during the Capitol Hill hearings. She also attracted significant criticism for insisting that the $220 million DHS ad campaign had been launched with President Trump's explicit approval—a claim the president has publicly denied.
In a surprising postscript to her humiliating dismissal, Trump named Noem as a special envoy for "The Shield of the Americas." This new security initiative, according to Trump, will focus on issues within the Western Hemisphere, offering Noem a continued, albeit diminished, role within the administration's foreign policy framework.
