US homeland security secretary Kristi Noem has hit back at South Park after the cartoon series mocked her over a defective cosmetic procedure and her admission that she shot her family's dog. In an interview on the Glenn Beck Program podcast, Noem described the satire as 'lazy' and urged critics to focus on her job performance rather than her looks.
The episode, which aired on Wednesday, depicted Noem with heavy makeup and a melting face from excessive Botox. It also showed her shooting dogs in a training video for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) and during a raid reminiscent of the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts. The portrayal referenced Noem's own memoir, published in May 2024, in which she detailed killing her family's dog Cricket and a goat on her farm.
Noem, a former South Dakota governor, has courted attention by staging photos at Ice raids and visiting El Salvador's Cecot prison. Her 2024 autobiography sparked widespread disapproval, with a poll finding over 80% of Americans condemned her actions. She was considered for the Republican vice-presidential nomination before Donald Trump chose JD Vance.
The episode is part of South Park's 27th season, which has frequently lampooned the Trump administration. Vice-president Vance, who was depicted oiling Satan's backside in the same episode, responded on social media: 'Well, I’ve finally made it.' Meanwhile, Noem's department used a screenshot from the episode to promote Ice job openings with signing bonuses of $50,000. The show replied: 'Wait so we ARE relevant?'
