Trump's pick for Homeland Security sparks dog lovers' outrage
United States President-elect Donald Trump has chosen South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the Secretary of Homeland Security. Noem has described in her book how she shot a young dog, raising concerns among American media and dog owners.
3:19 PM EST, November 14, 2024
Noem, who previously aspired to be vice president, recounted in the book how she shot a 14-month-old female dog named Cricket for ruining a hunt. This incident reportedly diminished her chances of being hired by the Trump administration.
Vanity Fair and Daily Beast emphasize that Noem has been involved in other controversies, but it was the dog story that garnered the most attention. Newsweek reminds readers that Trump is not an animal lover, yet many Americans consider dogs as family members.
"Watch your dogs" and "Secure your puppies" are warnings echoed by American media. They point out that Trump is the first president since Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) to move into the White House without a pet.
Another portion of Noem's book has also sparked controversy. She claimed to have met with Kim Jong Un, but this has been met with skepticism in the media. Daily Beast notes the lack of evidence supporting such a meeting.
She shot a dog. She will lead a large institution
CNN points out that the Department of Homeland Security experienced numerous upheavals during Trump's previous term (from 2017 to 2021). The department had five consecutive leaders, only two of whom were confirmed by the Senate.
The department, with a budget of $60 billion, employs thousands of workers.
