Social media ripped into Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for ‘cosplaying’ in a cowboy hat during an interview from the southern border on Sunday.
Noem, who resigned as Governor of South Dakota when she was confirmed last month, is a farmer and a rancher. She has often been seen donning her cowboy hat and boots.
But social media users were swift to tear into Donald Trump’s new DHS head as she doubled-down on his tariffs promise and repeated the president’s idea to use Guantanamo Bay to hold illegal immigrant deportees during an interview with NBC News.
‘What is this cosplay she has goin on? Kristi Noem hasn’t met a hat she won’t appropriate,’ on user wrote on X.
Another shared the sentiment that Noem was just playing dress up, writing on X: ‘Kristi noem and her cosplay outfits are completely ridiculous. The hair, Botox, fake eyelashes and cowboy hat don’t make her effective.’
‘This whole administration is a fake reality tv show,’ they added.
Noem’s hardline immigration stances and early actions, as well as her glammed-up look while conducting these raids, has made a splash on social media – even earning her the nicknames ‘ICE Barbie’ and ‘American Badass.’
Social Media users accused Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of ‘cosplaying’ in a cowgirl hat when she donned the cap during an interview from the southern border on Sunday
Noem is a farmer and rancher who grew up on a farm in South Dakota. She has often been seen in cowboy boots, a hat and belt buckles – it’s unclear why social media users think she is ‘cosplaying’ by wearing western garb
Trump started a trade war at the end of his second week back in office by imposing tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico in response to the fentanyl crisis. The administration claims these countries are responsible for creating and exacerbating production and trafficking of the deadly drug into the U.S.
Noem, 53, said that the three nations will ‘feel the pain’ of tariffs as she doubled-down on Trump’s imposition of economic sanctions, during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.
Trump announced on Saturday he is using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to put a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada and a 10 percent additional tax on Chinese imports.
He said the actions are ‘because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl.’
‘We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as President to ensure the safety of all,’ he posted to Truth Social. ‘I made a promise on my Campaign to stop the flood of illegal aliens and drugs from pouring across our Borders, and Americans overwhelmingly voted in favor of it.’
Noem, as head of DHS, is helping with the security of the nation and specifically in addressing the southern border crisis.
She is currently at the border with enforcement forces to gain more operational awareness of the ongoing crisis.
Noem was raised with her siblings on a family ranch and farm in rural Hamlin County, South Dakota.
Amid rumors she was being considered as a running mate for Trump in 2024, Noem released her second memoir No Going Back, an excerpt of which ignited nationwide controversy when she detailed shooting and killing a family farm dog she claims was violent and untrainable.
During an interview with Meet the Press host Kristen Welker, Noem joined virtually from the southern border and donned a large, white cowboy hat.
Noem receives the Be Cowboy award from PBR CEO Sean Gleason during the Monster Energy Team Challenge on July 11, 2020 in Sioux City Falls, South Dakota
Noem wore and ICE flak vest and cap in a post to social media where she boasted of ‘getting the dirt bags off the streets.’ But critics were quick to point out she was in full glam – hair, makeup and jewelry – to conduct the raid. She earned the nickname ‘ICE Barbie’
She did not rule out the potential that the U.S. could use Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to hold children who were brought into or crossed themselves illegally into the U.S.
‘Could women, children, and families be held there, at Guantanamo?’ Welker asked.
‘You know, if you look at what we are doing today of targeting the worst of the worst, we’ve been very clear on that. The priority of this president is to go after criminal aliens that are making our streets more dangerous,’ she insisted.
Asked to rule out using the Naval Base prison where terrorists were held and faced enhanced interrogation to house children migrants, Noem said: ‘We’re going to use the facilities that we have.’
‘I think you’re well aware we have other detention facilities, other places in the country,’ the former governor added. ‘So we will utilize what we have according to what’s appropriate for the individuals that we have gone out on these targeted operations with local law enforcement and task forces.’
The potential use of so-called Gitmo for migrants comes as the new administration grapples with where to house and hold illegal and undocumented migrants as it puts into place mass deportation plans.
