South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been making headlines in recent weeks amid the impending release of her new book, “No Going Back.” The book, which is set to be released on Tuesday, has already generated controversy due to its inclusion of an anecdote in which Noem recounts shooting a dog named Cricket in the head and dumping its body in a gravel pit.
Noem’s attempts to explain the incident and deflect from the backlash have only made matters worse for the governor, who has been making rounds on the interview circuit promoting her book. During a recent interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Noem stumbled through answers, making gaffes and struggling to deflect from tough questions.
Lol. Yikes pic.twitter.com/xLGKzfWbxn
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 5, 2024
One of the main points of contention during the interview was a section of the book in which Noem allegedly recalls meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. However, this meeting has been called into question by former U.S. intelligence officer Syd Seiler, who stated that no such meeting occurred and that he was not notified of a congressional meeting with Kim.
When pressed by host Margaret Brennan about whether the meeting actually took place, Noem gave a vague response, stating that she has met with many world leaders but refusing to provide specifics. She also attempted to brush off the mistake by saying she had made edits to the book after the discrepancy was brought to her attention.
Host: You never went to North Korea.
Noem: Yes, I have. I’ve been there. pic.twitter.com/I7YuJX0hfW
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 5, 2024
However, Noem’s attempts to deflect from the Cricket story and the error in her book only added fuel to the fire. She also made a gaffe by claiming she had been to the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea when in reality the area is not part of North Korea.
Brennan also questioned Noem about the inclusion of a passage at the end of her book in which she insinuates she would shoot President Joe Biden’s dog, Commander, due to its aggressive behavior. The governor justified this by stating that she wanted to appear tough, but this only added to the criticism she received.
Host: At the end of the book you say, the very first thing you would do if you got to the WH that was different from Biden, is you would make sure Biden’s dog was nowhere on the grounds. Commander say hello to cricket. Are you trying to look tough? pic.twitter.com/oAlQBHDCmd
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 5, 2024
Following the interview, Noem took to social media to cry foul, claiming that she had been interrupted 36 times in the 15-minute interview and that conservative politicians are treated differently by the mainstream media. She also pointed to the lack of scrutiny Biden receives for his own gaffes and false statements.
However, the backlash Noem is facing is a result of her own actions and decisions. Publishing a book with factual errors and a tone-deaf anecdote, and then attempting to deflect and cry victim when called out, only undermines her credibility and readiness for the national spotlight.
In the end, Noem’s media woes are self-inflicted and a result of her poor handling of the situation. It remains to be seen how this controversy will affect the release of her book and her political career moving forward.
