South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a potential Republican vice presidential candidate, has stirred controversy by suggesting that President Joe Biden's dog, Commander, should meet the same fate as her own 14-month-old dog, Cricket, whom she shot due to its aggressive behavior.
Noem's comments, made during an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation," come as she faces considerable backlash from both Democrats and Republicans for anecdotes in her upcoming memoir about decisions to personally put down various family farm animals.
In the interview, Noem implied that President Biden should be held accountable for Commander's behavior, as the dog has reportedly attacked 24 Secret Service agents. "Joe Biden's dog has attacked 24 Secret Service people. So how many people is enough people to be attacked and dangerously hurt before you make a decision on a dog?" Noem asked, despite the fact that Commander has since been relocated off White House grounds.
The controversy surrounding Noem's memoir has potentially jeopardized her chances of becoming Donald Trump's running mate in the upcoming presidential election. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and other political commentators have suggested that the controversial passages in her book may have cost her the vice presidential nomination.
In an effort to save her bid, Noem has been doing damage control in the days since the memoir anecdotes went public. During the "Face the Nation" interview, she doubled down on her defense of putting down Cricket, claiming that the dog had been attacking her children and that the backlash she has received is politically motivated. "This has been a story that my political opponents have tried to use against me for years," Noem said. "They're doing the same thing to me, that they do to Donald Trump every day."
However, Noem's attempts to clarify her position were met with further scrutiny when host Margaret Brennan confronted her about another passage in the book where the governor falsely claimed to have met North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Noem initially stood by the anecdote, stating, "I remember when I met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. I'm sure he underestimated me, having no clue about my experience staring down little tyrants (I'd been a children's pastor, after all)."
When pressed by Brennan about the accuracy of this claim, Noem backtracked, admitting that the passage should not have been included in the book and that she had made edits to remove it. "This anecdote shouldn't have been in the book, and as soon as it was brought to my attention, I made sure that that was adjusted," Noem said, while still refusing to provide details about her meetings with other world leaders.
The inconsistencies in Noem's memoir have raised questions about her credibility and judgment, with some critics accusing her of attempting to project a tough image at the expense of accuracy and compassion. The controversy has also led to the cancellation of at least one Republican fundraiser where Noem was slated to speak, with organizers citing "numerous threats and/or death threats" as the reason for the event's cancellation.
As Noem continues to face scrutiny over her memoir and her comments about President Biden's dog, the impact on her political aspirations remains to be seen. With Trump reportedly "disgusted" by Noem's decision to shoot Cricket, according to sources who spoke to Rolling Stone, the South Dakota governor's chances of securing the vice presidential nomination appear to be diminishing.
