Kristi Noem

About Kristi Noem

Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem (née Arnold) is an American politician who has served since 2019 as the 33rd governor of South Dakota. A member of the Republican Party, she was the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district from 2011 to 2019, and a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives for the 6th district from 2007 to 2011.

Noem began her political career in the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011. She was elected as the first female governor of South Dakota in 2018 with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. She gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for opposing statewide mask mandates in favor of voluntary measures. Noem has conservative positions on most domestic issues, particularly gun rights, abortion, and immigration.

In November 2024, Donald Trump selected Noem to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security in his non-consecutive second term. Noem was nicknamed "ICE Barbie" because of her frequent photo ops with ICE during their operations. Trump fired Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem in March 2026 due to mounting leadership controversies, agency mismanagement, and explosive Capitol Hill testimony that distracted from the White House's immigration agenda.

Noem is of Norwegian descent. She married Bryon Noem in 1992, in Watertown, South Dakota. They have three children and four grandchildren.

As of July 2026, Kristi has amassed 30,800 subscribers on YouTube.