Noem taking heat for high profile photo ops
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Critics are calling the 53-year-old 'Ice Barbie' while supporters say she is doing a great job deporting dangerous criminals. Kristi Noem has certainly been visible in her new role as Homeland Security Secretary. Appearing in front of cameras, often dressed in swat or combat gear.
Dressing up in costumes is nothing new for Kristi Noem. While Governor in 2023, she starred in a 6-and-a-half million dollar ad campaign for South Dakota labeled Freedom Works Here. She appeared on camera as a plumber, electrician, welder, dentist and highway patrol trooper. The ads appeared on television and online.
Her latest appearance with ICE agents generated a lot of pushback, especially from experienced gun owners and military veterans.
LIST: $9.1M in federal spending cuts in SD
'Here we are with Marco and Brian today letting me roll with them,' said Noem in her post to X.
U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona did not hold back earlier this week in his social media posts giving Noem some gun safety tips.
'Have you seen this picture? Let me explain to why this is all cosplay. Number one, anyone who's ever been in combat, whether it's marines, officer anything like that. You would never wear a flack jacket like that. Slopply put on to get snagged on something, breach a door go through any kind of very high-intensity situation. Number two, what is going on with the ejection port there? Either means there is a round in the chamber or you are just being sloppy keeping it open. If you have a round in the chamber, the most important thing you have to always do with weapon handling is you have to assume every weapon is loaded. You are pointing that weapon directly at that guy's head to the left-hand side, so that is a problem Secretary Noem,' said Gallego.
Gallego is a Marine Corps veteran and served in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Former Fox host Megyn Kelly, who now has her own show on Sirius XM and YouTube, was very vocal on her show on Wednesday about Noem 's frequent appearances in front of the camera. She says Noem is doing a great job, but…
'Just stop trying to glamorize the mission and put yourself in the middle of it as you cosplay ICE agent, which you're not. I can't stand these photo-ops.' 'She is an administrative policy person appointed by Trump because she was very loyal to him. Fine, but stop with the glam,' said Kelly
Along with the criticism, social media posts show Noem does have plenty of support, one person called her a 'true patriot who leads from the front.'
Another said 'We appreciate your work but it doesn't always need to be a photo op.Noem dismissed criticism that she is cosplaying on FOX. She told the host the people who work for Homeland Security are proud of the fact that she will wear an ICE hat or a vest.
Kristi Noem is the 8th Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The Department oversees a workforce of more than 260 thousand employees.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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