Soon-to-be former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been criticized for spending millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money on private jets, gold-detailed ICE vehicles and other lavish vehicles
Trump is removing Kristi Noem from her role as Homeland Security Secretary (Image: AP)
The Democrats have released a list of some of Kristi Noem’s most obscene purchases using taxpayers’ money as she’s fired from her role as Homeland Security Secretary.
Noem’s controversial tenure in the DHS will come to an end this month, Donald Trump suddenly announced on Thursday. Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin is set to take over the role on March 31, while Noem will be moved to the newly-created position of “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas.”
Trump’s announcement came after Noem was grilled by lawmakers about her role in approving contracts during a hearing before a US House of Representatives panel on Wednesday. Noem was questioned about a $220 million ad campaign encouraging immigrants to self-deport, and said Trump approved it.
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However, the White House had denied this. Trump claims he was not aware of the ad, which featured Noem on horseback at Mount Rushmore. “I wasn’t thrilled with it. I spent less money than that to become president. I didn’t know about it,” the president said in a phone call with NBC News on Thursday.
However, it’s not the first time Noem has been accused of wasting agency funds. Reacting to the news of Noem’s departure from the DHS on Thursday, the official X account of the Democrats posted a list of “other things Kristi Noem has purchased with your money.”
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It included:
–$172 million for private jets
–$2.4 million for gold-detailed ICE vehicles
–$700,000 for tricked-out trucks for ICE
–$120,000 for 2 Mustangs
“Did Trump also authorize these?” the Democrats questioned. Noem’s time as Homeland Security Secretary has been marred by controversy. She faced growing calls to step down after the fatal shooting of two US citizens in Minnesota during immigration operations.
During the House hearings this week, Noem was also questioned about whether she was having an affair with top advisor Corey Lewandowski. “At any time during your tenure as director of the Department of Homeland Security, have you had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski?” California Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove asked Wednesday.
Noem was questioned about whether she was having an affair with top advisor Corey Lewandowski(Image: AP)
“Mr. Chairman, I am shocked we are going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee today,” Noem, whose husband left the room right before the question was asked, replied.
Trump decided to fire Noem because of “a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures,” an administration official told NBC News. “Including the fallout in Minnesota, the ad campaign, the allegations of infidelity, the mismanagement of her staff, and her constant feuding with the heads of other agencies, including CBP and ICE,” they added.
