The farmer and small-business owner turned elected official has made headlines for being a possible vice presidential candidate and killing an "untrainable" dog.

Noem repeated a falsehood that Trump shared during the 2024 presidential campaign. There are not more than 13,000 murderers or nearly 16,000 sex offenders "loose" in the U.S. Her statement is based on a misinterpreted letter sent by ICE in late 2024.

Kristi Noem, South Dakota's firebrand Republican governor, faced questioning Friday at her confirmation hearing to be secretary of homeland security. Noem, the daughter of a farmer and a former representative from South Dakota, is being questioned before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.