Kristi Noem might be catching heat from every direction, but one powerful ally just stepped in and put the brakes on any talk of her getting canned—and it’s not who you might expect. First Lady Melania Trump is reportedly backing DHS Secretary Noem, and in Trump World, that kind of support is like political armor. You don’t lose your job when you’ve got Melania in your corner.
Political analyst Mark Halperin dropped the news this week, saying, “Melania Trump, I’m told, fully supports her friend, Kristi Noem, and the president does too.” Translation: Noem’s not going anywhere.
This all comes after a wild weekend in Minneapolis where a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Alex Pretti. Noem, now Homeland Security Secretary, said in a Saturday press conference that Pretti “violently resisted” officers and that the agent feared for his life.
Cue the outrage machine. Democrats are tripping over themselves to impeach Noem. Illinois Rep. Robin Kelly has already introduced a resolution with support from 120 House Democrats and their fearless leader, Hakeem Jeffries. Because of course they did. Never waste a tragedy, right?
Even a few Republicans are breaking ranks, saying Noem jumped the gun with her statements. But let’s be honest, the real fire is coming from the left. Minnesota’s Democrat Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are calling the shootings of both Pretti and Renee Good—who got shot after ramming an ICE agent with her car—“murders.” And they want ICE and Border Patrol out of their state entirely. Genius move, guys. What could possibly go wrong?
Trump isn’t buying into the hysteria. He met with Noem for two hours Monday and made it crystal clear: she’s staying put. He’s called for an “honest” investigation, not a witch hunt.