All posts tagged "kristi noem"

A top Trump ally just gave the game away on elections — and the media ignored it

This column was first published by DCReport.

Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem’s portfolio has nothing to do with elections, but in Arizona last week she spoke words revealing the Trump administration’s bold intent to rig the 2026 and 2028 elections, which if successful means ending our liberties. Noem said:

“When it gets to Election Day, we’ve been proactive to make sure that we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country.”

Lots of luck trying to find her words on the front page of newspapers or the network news shows, however. The excuses for not reporting this are simple: It’s unclear what she meant. It’s not news because it’s not new, just new phrasing. And since elections are not part of Noem’s portfolio her words aren’t significant.

On Friday, Donald Trump delivered further evidence of his foul intentions in an outrageously inappropriate speech to troops at Fort Bragg, where he appeared beside a GOP candidate for U.S. Senate.

“You have to vote for us,” he declared.

Fortunately, most of the soldiers remained silent, as they are supposed to. The light applause came from civilians who support Trump and his efforts to politicize our military. News coverage of this was greater than of Noem’s remarks, but still far from robust.

But bad news judgment aside, you should be alarmed at what Noem said. Let me explain the reasons.

Noem’s minions and defenders argue that by “right people” she means citizens and nothing more. That defense is beyond weak because non-citizen voting is extremely rare no matter how often Trump and his acolytes spread his lies.

The Heritage Foundation, source of Trump’s Project 2025 wrecking ball playbook, found only 24 instances from 2003 to 2023. That’s 24 votes out of billions for president, Senate and House over two decades. Bupkis.

The Cato Institute, a libertarian promoting organization with a solid reputation for being principled, denounced this lie just this month in clear terms: Trump’s Claims About Noncitizens Voting Are False. We Can Prove It.

Noem’s second point, about electing “the right leaders,” is harder to defend.

In normal times her remark would be treated as just urging votes for her party or her party segment. But that doesn’t work because the Trump administration considers any vote not for him and his chosen candidates to be illegitimate.

Dictator Donald reigns as the president of Red states and the punisher of Blue. He withholds Congressionally appropriated federal funds from Blue states and cities. He sends armed troops and masked ICE agents to occupy Blue zones. Trump and his cabinet constantly refer to “real Americans,” hoping to stigmatize those who stand up for freedom, integrity, and the rule of law as well as the educated and competent.

There’s no whitewashing Noem’s second part. Trump continues to lie that the 2020 election was stolen. His longtime adviser Steve Bannon said ICE agents will “surround” polling places this year. And as this MS Now report shows, Bannon is not alone in wanting ICE to intimidate voters who aren’t part of the MAGA cult.

Muddying clear waters

The most generous interpretation of Noem’s comments would note that she was speaking in Arizona about the proposed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R. 22/H.R. 8281). The so-called Save America Act is Trump’s effort to restrict voting to people who support him and limit voting by anyone who favors other candidates for office. But since her position has zip to do with elections why is she speaking on this? And why is she speaking in what defenders have to say are less than clear terms?

The answer: muddying clear waters is a Trumpian conman game, a way to convey messages without being — he thinks — accountable.

Even if you accept that lame excuse, and I don’t, you should be alarmed at Noem’s efforts to divide Americans and pit us against one another. That’s how early-stage dictatorships work, before they get to the inevitable stage of mass purging of loyalists (like Noem) to ensure struct obedience to Dear Leader.

Following the first of many loyalist purges expect mass arrests of critics and opponents, holding people incommunicado without access to the courts (already being done to those swept up by ICE). Eventually despots turn to firing squads or their murderous equivalents, to maintain their illegitimate power. Think about Putin’s agents using African frog poison to kill opposition leader Victor Navalny and the ayatollahs executing and massacring many thousands of dissident Iranians.

So long as Trump remains in power his regime intends to rig future elections. Bannon, Noem, and Trump himself make that obvious. Not acting today to protect your and everyone else’s ballots will mean paying a much greater price tomorrow, assuming that, like me, you want to restore our democracy and live in an actual land of the free and the home of the brave.

David Cay Johnston co-founded DCReport. He is a bestselling author and investigative journalist who for 13 years reported for the New York Times. Johnston is a specialist in economics and tax issues. He won a 2001 Pulitzer Prize. He is a professor of practice teaching law, public policy, and journalism at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Trump's most lethal sidekick is hunting enemies. She can start with me

The New York Times reports that the Department of Homeland Security has sent Google (owner of YouTube), Meta (Facebook and Instagram), and other media corporations subpoenas for the names on accounts that criticize ICE enforcement. The department wants to identify Americans who oppose what it’s doing.

I’ll save them time.

***

Hello? Kristi Noem?

Robert Reich here. I hear you’re trying to find the names of people who are making negative comments on social media about ICE enforcement.

Look no further. I’ve done it frequently. I’m still doing it. This note to you, which I’m posting on Substack, is another example.

If you want more details, just type “Robert Reich” into an internet browser, followed by YouTube or Facebook or Instagram or X or TikTok or Reddit. Or Substack. Then type in your name, or ICE, or the Department of Homeland Security. That will give you plenty of evidence.

If you read what I’ve said, you’ll find it’s very critical. I’ve done some videos that are very critical of you and ICE, too.

Let me not mince words: I really truly believe you’re doing a sh---y job.

I’ve said and will continue to say that many of the things you and ICE are doing are unconstitutional.

For example: Pulling people out of their homes in the middle of the night without search warrants. Arresting people without giving them due process of law to defend themselves. Putting innocent people into detention camps. Not giving them adequate food or medical care. Not letting their families know where they are. Sending them out of the country to brutal prisons in other lands. Even jailing children. Arresting journalists reporting on protests against you. And murdering two innocent Americans and not allowing a full criminal investigation of those murders.

All this is forbidden by the Constitution of the United States, Madam Secretary. The federal courts keep telling you this, but you and your department keep defying the courts. This is unconstitutional, too.

You’re even violating the Constitution by sending administrative subpoenas to Google, Meta, and all the rest, seeking accounts like mine that criticize what you’re doing.

I have a right under the First Amendment to criticize you without fear of the consequences.

It’s my government, Madam Secretary. You see the possessive pronoun I’m using? My government. It’s your government because you’re a citizen of the United States, not because you’re a government official.

You and your boss are supposed to be working for me and every other American. You swore an oath. The people of the United States hired the two of you to do your jobs, which doesn’t including spying on us or jailing us or trying to intimidate us or murdering us.

I was once a Cabinet officer like you are, Madam Secretary. I had a big office like you do. I had a big staff, like you do. Taxpayers paid for all of it, as they do for everything you’re up to — except when Congress stops the funding, as they have now, because you’re doing so many despicable things.

When I was in the Cabinet, Madam Secretary, I was acutely aware of my responsibilities to the Constitution of the United States. I told myself every day that I had sworn an oath to uphold it. I worked very hard every day to fulfill that responsibility.

I’m not boasting or bragging. I merely did my duty.

I visited communities where my department’s inspectors were attempting to keep people safe, to make sure they were doing what they were supposed to be doing.

I did what federal judges told me to do.

I invited criticism of me and my department. That was an important way to get feedback on what we were doing, to learn if we were making mistakes, to improve the way we served the public. Feedback is very useful in a democracy. You might even say it’s essential to democracy.

What the hell are you doing, Madam Secretary?

Robert Reich

Robert Reich is an emeritus professor of public policy at Berkeley and former secretary of labor. His writings can be found at https://robertreich.substack.com/. His new memoir, Coming Up Short, can be found wherever you buy books. You can also support local bookstores nationally by ordering the book at bookshop.org

Kristi Noem's 'outrageous' voting comment ignites frenzy: 'Saying the quiet part out loud'

Kristi Noem set off a firestorm among political observers over the weekend by making a comment about voting that many said was "saying the quiet part out loud."

Noem, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, said during a press event Saturday, "When it gets to Election Day, we've been proactive to make sure that we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country."

That comment about "the right people" voting immediately spread online, with Jonathan Karl, ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent, saying one word: "Extraordinary."

The popular Ekklesia Network wrote simply, "They are saying the usually quiet part quite openly."

Sports analyst Ben Fowlkes chimed in, "If we let these people destroy our democracy we won’t be able to say that we didn’t have plenty of advance warning."

Former Obama insider David Axelrod said, "THIS is why Noem will remain in place, despite her flagrant, corrupt mismanagement of the DHS, at least through the midterm elections."

He added that Trump "wants a loyal apparatchik in place who will do whatever is necessary to ensure 'the right leaders' win."

Camille MacKenzie, who identifies as a "constitutional conservative," weighed in, "Elections are not a 'critical infrastructure' responsibility that Kristi Noem is in charge of. She’s outright making up lies about what DHS is responsible for. It’s outrageous that she even thinks that this is something she has any power over."

Ex-GOP congressman Joe Walsh was also outraged.

"To make sure the 'right people' are voting? Who the f--- are the 'right people?'" he asked. "And it’s not government’s job to choose our leaders. It’s the American people’s job. I served in Congress with Kristi Noem. It’s not at all surprising to hear her spew this un-American s---."

Dem congressman Daniel Goldman said, "They’re not even trying to hide their intention to steal the election. We cannot give one more cent to DHS until Congress ensures our elections will be free and fair."

Trump gossips about 'dead giveaway' Kristi Noem is having an 'affair': report

President Donald Trump has "frequently" shared a story about how he uncovered that Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski could be more than just coworkers, according to reports.

Noem and Lewandowski, who are both married, have been reportedly having a years-long "affair," The Daily Beast reported. And according to The New York Post, they spend nights together regularly.

It's a topic Trump has apparently even gossiped about at the White House, where he has mentioned his "go-to story" regarding what he has witnessed between Noem and her top aide — Trump's former campaign manager. He even mentioned it this week over dinner with media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

"Sources told the paper—whose owner, Rupert Murdoch, dined with Trump at the White House this week, according to Breaker—that the president 'frequently' tells a story about witnessing Lewandowski and Noem taking sips from the same can of soda," The Beast reported.

"The president, a known germaphobe, allegedly says that was a dead giveaway," The Beast reported.

“You can’t do that, it’s pretty obvious!” Trump said, according to sources from The Post. “You can’t do that, everyone’s going to know!”

Kristi Noem roasted after pilot fired over forgotten blanket: 'Can't buy another?'

Mockery abounded Friday after an unusual report revealed that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem fired a pilot over not moving her blanket — but then needed the pilot's help to fly her home.

The Wall Street Journal described in a bombshell report the chaos and dysfunction inside the Department of Homeland Security. Several sources complained on and off the record about Noem and her top adviser and purported romantic partner Corey Lewandowski, who frequently berate senior staffers, demand polygraph tests for employees they don't trust, and routinely fire employees for dubious reasons. In one incident, Lewandowski fired a U.S. Coast Guard pilot after Noem’s blanket was left behind on a plane during a maintenance issue, according to sources familiar with the incident.

On social media, people mocked Noem over the blanket incident.

"I am confused…does Noem have a security blanket she travels with??" Former FBI special agent and lawyer Asha Rangappa wrote on Bluesky.

"The details of the Kristi Noem blanket incident are just f------ perfect," Gizmodo reporter Matt Novak wrote on Bluesky.

"The Kristi Noem blanket incident is a bizarre example of how a regime of narcissists is swinging a wrecking ball at Americans' lives in service to their own egos," former Metro editor at the Chicago Tribune Mark Jacob wrote on Bluesky.

"Noem can’t just buy another blanket?" Another user wrote on Bluesky.

"BREAKING: Kristi Noem blanket reveal," Governor Newsom Press Office wrote on X, featuring an image of President Donald Trump and late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"DHS did not fire the officers who shot and killed Americans in cold blood. They did, however, fire an officer who accidentally left Kristi Noem's blanket on a plane," Democrats wrote on X.

Kristi Noem enrages Trump with secret 'cabinet meetings' behind president's back

Kirsti Noem's secret cabinet meetings have enraged Donald Trump, who is reportedly infuriated by the Department of Homeland Security.

The president had not been aware of the meetings, though it is now believed he and his advisors are aware Noem is hosting clandestine meetings which the DHS head has referred to as cabinet meetings, The Daily Beast reported. Aides to the president are reportedly troubled by Noem referring to her meetings as "cabinet" meetings, and Trump is personally furious at an advertisement that the DHS budgeted for earlier this month.

Noem was at the center of an advertisement campaign telling immigrants to "leave now", but the $200million price tag on said adverts has left Trump "annoyed".

A DHS spokesperson defended Noem, saying it was appropriate to call the gatherings “DHS component cabinet meetings” and that the “tremendously successful" advertisements had been coordinated with White House officials.

Noem hit headlines earlier today as Trump administration officials are believed to be unhappy with the Department of Homeland Security head, who has made the team "uncomfortable" when trying to cozy up to the president.

Michelle Hackman, Josh Dawsey, and Tarini Parti wrote, "The pair worked to hastily solidify their relationship with the president, successfully requesting an Oval Office meeting with Trump two days after the Pretti shooting. Noem’s team quickly scheduled a series of press conferences on other matters, including an event highlighting airport security in Miami and an announcement about the border wall in Arizona.

"Noem and Lewandowski’s close relationship had already made Trump and his top advisers uncomfortable. Lewandowski had initially wanted to formally serve as Noem’s chief of staff, but Trump rejected the idea due to reports of a romantic relationship between the two—which he has continued to bring up, officials say.

"Though White House officials have been frustrated with Noem and Lewandowski’s leadership, they know his closeness with the president makes it hard for them to make changes at DHS, officials said."

Trump advisors 'uncomfortable' with Kristi Noem ally trying to curry favor with president

Donald Trump and his advisors are said to be uncomfortable with recent actions carried out by the Department of Homeland Security Head, Kirsti Noem.

Noem, who assumed office on Jan 25, 2025, has left the president and his closest allies uncomfortable with a pitch to curry favor with the 47th POTUS. A report from The Wall Street Journal confirmed that Noem and Corey Lewandowski, a former campaign manager who has worked with Trump in the past, are attempting to win the president over.

Though the pair has been spotted backing Immigration and Customs Officials in recent weeks, their private pitches to Trump have been the point of discussion behind the scenes.

"Behind the scenes, Noem and Lewandowski have attempted to curry favor with Trump and box out rivals, including Homan," the WSJ reported. "As Trump’s first campaign manager in the 2016 election, Lewandowski has a long-term relationship with the president, who values his loyalty and considers him a friend.

"Though White House officials have been frustrated with Noem and Lewandowski’s leadership, they know his closeness with the president makes it hard for them to make changes at DHS, officials said.

"Lewandowski has taken on a much more expansive role than the status typically allows, directing personnel and contracting and handling classified information. In emails and on other paperwork, he uses the title chief adviser to the secretary.

"Lewandowski’s outsize role at the department drew enough concern from administration officials that the White House Counsel’s Office opened an inquiry into Lewandowski’s potential abuse of the special government employee role last year."

Kristi Noem drowned out by loud protesters at press conference

Protesters surrounded Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a news conference in California on Thursday.

It appeared that Noem's voice was nearly drowned out at some points by people yelling and sirens blaring during a visit to Otay Mesa, San Diego, to discuss an update on border security and drug seizures along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Journalist Aaron Rupar pointed out how the press conference was physically set up, and how the view could have been obstructed as the volume of voices escalated around her. Video and images showed a large number of evidence bags and boxes surrounding her.

"Definitely sounds like protesters that are making the commotion behind Noem (also note that they've set up the news conference so you can't see anything behind her)," Rupar wrote on X.

Noem also appeared to have a hard time hearing questions through the commotion, Rupar added.

Noem has been criticized on multiple fronts, including her controversial handling of immigration enforcement, her role in overseeing the Trump administration's ICE operations that have been accused of excessive force — and even led to the death of two American citizens in Minneapolis — and her support for harsh border policies that critics argue are inhumane.

definitely sounds like protesters that are making the commotion behind Noem (also note that they've set up the news conference so you can't see anything behind her) pic.twitter.com/AUEUMjLH2G
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 12, 2026

'Noem is a liar': Intense attack sees DHS head decried as 'embarrassment' on House floor

A lawmaker had a scathing opening statement about Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a hearing where heads of immigration agencies were testifying ahead of a looming funding deadline for the Department of Homeland Security.

Ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) called out Noem and President Donald Trump directly, delivering his remarks before the testimony from DHS officials. He questioned Noem's leadership and the conduct of ICE and border patrol agents responsible for carrying out the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies and tactics, including the killing of two citizens in Minnesota last month.

"Bystander videos from Minneapolis and cities around the country, show ICE and CPD personnel behaving like unprofessional goons, cursing at bystanders and mooning people from their hotel rooms," Thompson said. "News reports have a Border Patrol agent who was found passed out, drunk, and covered in vomit in a vehicle and an ICE personnel apparently stole a child's phone and sold it for cash.

"It's an embarrassment and DHS is so-called leadership should be ashamed — if only they had any shame."

He specifically addressed Noem, who had appeared briefly before the committee last year and then said she had to leave for another meeting — but that meeting never happened.

"Secretary Noem's Department of Homeland Security has the blood of American citizens on its hands, but she takes no responsibility for anything," Thompson said. "To the contrary, Secretary Noem was last seen in this committee room hiding behind her family in a desperate attempt to distract from her department's failures and abuses. Then she ran from our questions, leaving early under the guise of needing to attend a meeting that it turns out, didn't even exist."

Thompson described what he thinks Noem should do next.

'She's always been more concerned with photo ops and wardrobe changes than following the law and fulfilling the mission of her department. Since being sworn in, Secretary Noem has has enriched herself, abused the power of her office, obstructed congressional oversight and violated her oath to the Constitution.

"Donald Trump and Kristi Noem are doing real damage to this country and to the department that was stood up 25 years ago in the wake of 9/11 to protect American citizens from future attacks. Secretary Noem is a liar with no concern for Americans killed by the department she runs. She must go."

Kristi Noem ‘alienating Republicans’ — and it’s not just over her handling of ICE

Republicans have started to ramp up criticism over Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — and not just over her handling of ICE and the growing public backlash after two agents killed American citizens — but also tensions over her leadership of FEMA.

As Noem tries to manage the fallout over the Trump administration's harsh immigration actions, "the embattled Noem faces a litany of other dysfunctions in her department that also imperil her tenure," according to a Politico report published Thursday.

"President Donald Trump has insisted Noem will not lose her job," Politico reported. "But her handling of other things under her agency’s sprawling remit – from disaster relief to the gutting of the nation’s cybersecurity agency – is increasingly alienating Republicans at a time when she needs them most."

A number of Republicans have begun to call out Trump and Noem, who is slated to testify in March before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“You’ve got to get adults in the room,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) told Politico. “Get people in there who actually have the kind of experience you need to run large, complex organizations. And there’s a lot, by the way, in this Cabinet that do that. It’s just not her.”

Tillis, who has been a critic of DHS and Trump, is among GOP leaders who have suggested Noem might not be up for the job.

“A lot of people question her ability to lead this agency, particularly after what has happened,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) told CNN. “I think that all options need to be on the table to find the best person, if there’s somebody better.”

Trump on Thursday doubled down on his support for Noem during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.

"But frustrations with how the agency is functioning continue to mount," Politico reported. "Some of the most public critiques outside of ICE operations have related to Noem’s leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Tillis, who has called for her resignation or removal from office, devoted much of a speech on the Senate floor last week to Noem’s leadership of FEMA."

According to Tillis and other Republicans, Noem has required that she personally approve any spending that reaches more than $100,000. This move has apparently stalled requests and delayed FEMA assistance from lawmakers and the state officials requesting the funding, Politico reported.

Tillis has also indicated that the federal government's response to hurricanes Helene, Matthew and Florence has been troubling. Hurricane Helene left 250 people dead and caused nearly $80 billion in damages in North Carolina.

“The data clearly shows that something is seriously wrong here,” Tillis said. “Under Secretary Noem’s lack of leadership, FEMA has invented an entirely new set of bureaucracies, the likes of which I’ve never seen.”