Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds for appearing to oppose President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks. Ingraham mistakenly referred to Rounds as a North Dakota senator, quoting a Politico article in which Rounds emphasized the Senate’s independence as a branch of government.
Meanwhile, Trump nominated South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary due to her strong stance on immigration. Noem has been vocal about the Biden administration’s border policies, calling the situation an “invasion.” As governor, she supported tougher border security measures and sent South Dakota National Guard troops to assist at the U.S.-Mexico border multiple times, with eight deployments since 2021.
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Noem has been a prominent advocate for stricter refugee vetting, particularly from countries with ties to terrorism. In 2017, she backed the Trump administration’s efforts, stating, “I support putting a temporary pause on accepting refugees from terrorist-held areas—until we can ensure they don’t pose a safety threat.”
When announcing her nomination, Trump highlighted Noem’s alignment with his priorities. “She will work closely with Border Czar Tom Homan to secure the border and ensure our homeland is safe. Kristi has been a trusted ally on many projects, and she will be a strong asset in our mission to make America safe again,” he declared.
Former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf endorsed Governor Kristi Noem’s nomination, stating, “Gov. Noem is a fantastic pick… She has been a successful governor and has been forward-leaning and helping to support the border security mission with her National Guard.”
Noem expressed her commitment to securing the border and restoring safety to American communities, emphasizing the importance of providing families the opportunity to pursue the American dream.
Her nomination has advanced out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee with a 13 to 2 vote and now awaits a full Senate confirmation.
Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has assured a swift confirmation process ahead of President-elect Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025.
Newly elected Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) also congratulated Noem on her nomination and committed to quickly advancing the president’s nominees.
