Kristi Noem facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kristi Noem
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Official portrait, 2025
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| 8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| Assumed office January 25, 2025 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Troy Edgar |
| Preceded by | Alejandro Mayorkas |
| 33rd Governor of South Dakota | |
| In office January 5, 2019 – January 25, 2025 |
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| Lieutenant | Larry Rhoden |
| Preceded by | Dennis Daugaard |
| Succeeded by | Larry Rhoden |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large district |
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| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Stephanie Herseth Sandlin |
| Succeeded by | Dusty Johnson |
| Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 6th district |
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| In office January 9, 2007 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Art Fryslie |
| Succeeded by | Burt Tulson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kristi Lynn Arnold
November 30, 1971 Watertown, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Bryon Noem
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | South Dakota State University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem (born November 30, 1971) is an American politician. She is currently the 8th U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. She started this role in 2025 as part of Donald Trump's second presidential team.
Before this, Noem was the 33rd governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025. She left this job after being chosen as Secretary of Homeland Security. Noem is a member of the Republican Party. She also served as a U.S. representative for South Dakota from 2011 to 2019. Earlier, she was a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011.
Noem made history as the first female governor of South Dakota when she was elected in 2018. During her time as governor, she became well-known across the country. This was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic. She chose not to make people wear face masks statewide. Instead, she encouraged people to take voluntary steps.
Noem is also a farmer and rancher. She has written two autobiographies. The first, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland, came out in 2022. Her second book, No Going Back, was published in 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kristi Lynn Arnold was born on November 30, 1971. Her parents were Ron and Corinne Arnold. She grew up with her siblings on their family farm and ranch in Hamlin County, South Dakota. Her family has Norwegian roots.
In 1990, Noem finished high school at Hamlin High School. She was also crowned South Dakota Snow Queen. In 1994, her father died in a farm accident. Noem had been attending Northern State University but left early to help run the family farm. She later added a hunting lodge and a restaurant to the family property. Her siblings also returned home to help grow the businesses.
Noem continued her education by taking classes at other colleges. She studied at Mount Marty College and South Dakota State University. She also took online classes from the University of South Dakota. In 2012, while serving as a U.S. Representative, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her main subject was political science from South Dakota State University.
South Dakota House of Representatives (2007–2011)
In 2006, Kristi Noem won a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives. She ran as a Republican and represented the 6th district. This district included parts of several counties. She won her first election with 39% of the votes. In 2008, she was reelected with 41% of the votes.
Noem served in the state House for four years, from 2007 to 2010. In her second term, she was an assistant majority leader. During her time, she helped pass 11 bills into law. These included changes to property taxes and new laws to increase gun rights in South Dakota. She also worked on a task force about agriculture land.
U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2019)
Becoming a U.S. Representative
In 2010, Noem decided to run for South Dakota's single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She won the Republican primary election. She then faced the Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. Noem won the election with 48% of the votes.
She was reelected to her seat three more times. In 2012, she won with 57% of the vote. In 2014, she won with 67%. And in 2016, she won with 64% of the vote.
Working in Congress
In 2011, Noem was chosen by her fellow new Republican members of the House to be a link to the leadership. This made her one of the few women in the House Republican leadership. Her job was to encourage leaders to cut government spending. She also helped manage the expectations of the new members.
Energy and Environment
Noem has stated that she believes the science on climate change is "varied." She has said it has not been proven to her that human actions are affecting the climate.
She supports an "all-of-the-above energy approach." This means using different energy sources like wind and ethanol. She also believes in a "balanced energy mix" to stop the U.S. from relying on foreign oil. Noem supported the Keystone XL Pipeline. She also supports drilling for oil in the ocean.
Health Care
Noem was against the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). She voted to cancel it. She wanted to remove its funding but keep some parts. These included allowing young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance. She also wanted to add limits on medical lawsuits.
Taxes and Spending
In 2017, Noem helped create the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. She said this law would save the average South Dakota family about $1,200 in taxes. Noem has called the budget deficit a very important issue. This is when the government spends more money than it takes in.
She wanted to make sure that government spending in any year did not go over the money it collected. She suggested cutting funds for some federal programs. She also said she would not raise taxes to balance the budget.
Governor of South Dakota (2019–2025)
Becoming Governor
On November 14, 2016, Noem announced she would run for governor of South Dakota in 2018. She won the Republican primary election. Then, she defeated the Democratic candidate, Billie Sutton, in the main election. She won with 51.0% of the votes.
In 2022, Noem ran for reelection as governor. She won the Republican primary with 76.4% of the votes. In the general election, she defeated Jamie Smith with 62% of the votes. Noem was sworn in as governor on January 5, 2019. She was the first woman to hold this office in South Dakota.
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Key Actions as Governor
Anti-Protest Laws
Noem's office worked with an energy company to create laws against protests. She signed these laws in March 2019. One law created a fund to pay for policing pipeline protests. Another law made it possible to fine people for encouraging riots. Some groups said these laws went against free speech.
China Policy
Noem has called China "an enemy" of the United States. In 2022, she banned TikTok from state-owned devices. She said the Chinese government uses information from TikTok to influence Americans. In 2023, she banned other Chinese apps like WeChat on state devices. In 2024, she signed a bill stopping six countries, including China, from buying agricultural land in South Dakota.
Gun Rights
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In 2019, Noem signed a law that removed the need for a permit to carry a concealed handgun in South Dakota. In 2022, she tried to use government money to build a gun range. However, the state legislature did not approve this idea.
At a 2023 event, Noem mentioned that her two-year-old granddaughter had a shotgun and a rifle.
Custer State Park Proposal
In 2022, Noem suggested building a government-funded RV park in Custer State Park. Many people were against this idea. They worried it would compete with private businesses and harm the park's natural beauty. The proposal was eventually stopped by the legislature.
School Prayer Bill
In 2022, Noem wanted to bring prayer back into schools. She mentioned this idea in a speech. However, a bill to allow prayer in schools was defeated in a committee vote. An aide admitted that no schools were asked about the idea before the bill was proposed.
Trade Issues
In 2019, Noem said that trade disagreements with China and the European Union had hurt South Dakota's economy. She noted that this was especially true for the agriculture industry. Agriculture is the largest industry in the state.
Secretary of Homeland Security (2025–present)
Becoming Secretary
On November 12, 2024, President-elect Trump chose Kristi Noem to be the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. This is a very important role in the U.S. government. The Senate committee that deals with homeland security approved her nomination. On January 25, 2025, the Senate officially confirmed Noem for the position. She was confirmed by a vote of 59 to 34.
First Actions
After leaving her role as governor, Noem was sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security. This happened on January 25, 2025. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas performed the swearing-in ceremony.
One of her first actions was to end a special protection for about 600,000 Venezuelans. These people had fled their country due to its government. After a mid-air collision in the Potomac River in 2025, Noem sent U.S. Coast Guard teams to help with search and rescue.
Presidential Politics
2020 Presidential Election
In the 2020 presidential election, the Trump-Pence team won in South Dakota. Noem was initially chosen to be one of South Dakota's electors for Trump. However, she later stepped down from that role.
Noem has claimed that the 2020 election had widespread voter fraud. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. Even after Joe Biden became president, she still said she did not believe the election was "free and fair."
2024 Presidential Election
Noem supported Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries. She endorsed him at a rally in South Dakota in September 2023. Trump also invited her to appear with him at a rally in Ohio in March 2024.
During Trump's 2024 campaign, many people thought Noem might be chosen as his running mate for Vice President. In September 2023, she said she would agree to be his running mate "in a heartbeat." In February 2024, a poll showed her as a top choice for Trump's running mate. Trump himself said that Noem was on his list of potential running mates.
Personal Life
Kristi Noem married Bryon Noem in 1992 in Watertown, South Dakota. They have three children together. When Noem moved to Washington D.C. for her job in Congress in 2011, her family continued to live on their ranch near Castlewood, South Dakota.
Noem is a Protestant. As of 2018, her family attended a Foursquare Church in Watertown, South Dakota. She is also a grandmother.
In August 2024, Noem and her sister became members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This happened at the South Dakota State Fair.
See also
In Spanish: Kristi Noem para niños
- List of female governors in the United States
- Women in conservatism in the United States
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
