Kristi Noem's Presidential Ambitions Stir Tensions With Trump Amid 'Cabinet Meetings' Controversy

Kristi Noem and Donald Trump have a very complicated relationship. In 2018, Noem became the first female governor of South Dakota, and she also received the support of Trump at the time. Noem currently serves as the Department of Homeland Security secretary, and she has been facing backlash for her involvement in the recent killings by ICE.

Last week, she spoke at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego County where she detailed the Trump administration's border security efforts. According to Noem, the country has the most secure border in the history of America under Trump's administration. Naturally, Noem faced backlash for her statement, but the POTUS immediately showed his support by telling reporters that the DHS secretary is doing a very good job.

Signs of Presidential Ambitions

However, there are also reports claiming that Noem and Trump's relationship could turn sour because of the former's alleged desire to run for president someday. Reports claimed that there have been some telling signs suggesting that Noem is interested in the White House. After all, she has reportedly started calling her get-togethers 'cabinet meetings', which is a troubling sign that she could be more focused on her plans to run for president than on pushing the administration's message.

According to reports, Trump also became annoyed with Noem after learning that she set aside £147.5 million ($200 million) from the department's budget to fund an ad campaign that she starred in. The ad centred on warning US immigrants and urging them to leave the country immediately.

Misusing Department's Budget

The Wall Street Journal revealed that Trump learned about the £147.5 million ($200 million) budget being set aside by Noem from one of his White House staff. Insiders also said Noem's campaign shows that she has already started laying down the groundwork for her future run for president.

According to reports, Noem was a frontrunner to be Trump's running mate in the 2024 election. However, she lost her chance to become vice president after she detailed shooting her 14-month-old dog, Cricket. In her book 'No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong With Politics and How We Move America Forward', she described the young dog as a 'trained assassin'.

A Tragedy

Noem claimed that she took Cricket on a hunting adventure with some of her older dogs, and the young mutt became very difficult to handle. Since Cricket was just over a year old, dog owners would know how much energy it must have had. But while Noem was talking to some of her neighbours on their walk, Cricket reportedly attacked the neighbours' chickens and killed them one by one.

The DHS secretary said that she hated Cricket and worked out right then and there that the dog was untrainable. So, she led the dog to a gravel pit and shot her there. It was then that Noem realised that she had a goat that kept running after her kids, so she decided to shoot the animal too.

Those who read about Noem's story were shocked by what she did to both animals. Reports said what the secretary did shows her willingness to do anything difficult, messy, and ugly if it has to be done.