Kristi Noem Joins Trump at Summit After DHS Dismissal

In a swift turn of events, Kristi Noem stood beside Donald Trump at the “Shield of the Americas” summit in Miami, just days after he dismissed her from her role as Homeland Security secretary. The former South Dakota governor, now serving as a special envoy, showered Trump with praise during the event held at his National Doral Golf Club.

The summit gathered leaders from Latin America, where Trump urged them to take military action against drug trafficking cartels and gangs, labeling them an “unacceptable threat” to national security across the hemisphere.

Noem’s presence marked her first public appearance since her termination, making her the first Cabinet official to exit during Trump’s second term. Corey Lewandowski, her adviser who also left his position, was present as well, amid ongoing speculation regarding their relationship. When questioned about the alleged affair during a congressional hearing earlier that week, Noem sidestepped the inquiry.

Expressing gratitude for her new role, Noem stated, “First of all, I offer thanks to our president who had the vision to bring all of you as world leaders here.” She continued to commend Trump for the opportunity to serve as a special envoy, emphasizing the initiative's goal of fostering sovereignty and security among nations.

“This Shield of [the] Americas will be a powerful example to the rest of the world about what’s possible,” she asserted, while highlighting her previous accomplishments at DHS, including border security and deportations. She expressed her intent to leverage that experience to assist other countries in fortifying their borders.

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, assured attendees that Noem would play a significant role in the initiative. “You will see a lot of her,” he remarked, indicating her personal involvement with leaders from various nations.

Earlier in the day, Trump addressed the leaders and issued a stern warning to Cuba, claiming it was on the brink of significant change. He signed a proclamation reaffirming his commitment to dismantling terrorist organizations and cartels in the Western Hemisphere, with seventeen nations endorsing this effort through a joint security declaration.

Noem’s appointment follows a tumultuous tenure at DHS characterized by controversies. Her management of Trump’s immigration policies in Minnesota faced backlash after incidents leading to the deaths of two American citizens, whom she labeled domestic terrorists. Despite criticism, she has not retracted her statements.

Her controversial decisions included acquiring luxury jets and launching a $220 million ad campaign while facing scrutiny over her rumored affair with Lewandowski. The culmination of these issues appeared to lead to her dismissal after a congressional hearing where both parties criticized her leadership.

Senator Thom Tillis notably condemned Noem’s actions, drawing parallels to a shocking anecdote she shared about killing her own puppy. Following this hearing, Trump announced her removal via a lengthy post on Truth Social, nominating Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as her successor.

An administration official cited “a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures” as reasons for Noem’s firing, which included fallout from Minnesota and ongoing disputes with agency heads like those at CBP and ICE. “Kristi’s drama sadly overshadowed and distracted from the Administration’s extremely popular immigration agenda,” the official added.

Before her dismissal, Noem defended her actions vigorously during congressional questioning, asserting she was executing Trump’s agenda faithfully. When confronted about her relationship with Lewandowski, she expressed shock at the inquiry's nature. She also claimed that the controversial ad campaign had received Trump’s approval—a statement he later denied.

In a resurfaced interview from February 2025, Noem elaborated on the ad campaign featuring her on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore, asserting it was Trump’s idea. “He said ‘nope, nope. I want you to do them,’” she recounted.

Since leaving DHS, Noem has refrained from publicly criticizing the administration. However, an unnamed source indicated she felt “thrown under the bus.”