Noem Stumbles on Geography During Interview
During a recent television appearance, Kristi Noem, the newly appointed Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, faced scrutiny after misidentifying the geographic locations of nations when asked about the United States’ closest allies in South America. The former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security was on Newsmax to discuss her new role.
Questioning U.S. Alliances
Anchor Greta Van Susteran posed the question: “Who is our best friend in South America at this point?”
Noem responded, “We’ve worked so much with El Salvador on migration issues and third-country agreements. Ecuador’s been fantastic… we’ve worked very well with Argentina, Costa Rica’s been fantastic.”
However, El Salvador and Costa Rica are located in Central America, not South America, leading to criticism of her geographical knowledge.
Explaining the ‘Shield of the Americas’ Initiative
Noem also elaborated on her new position and the objectives of the Shield of the Americas initiative. “Shield of the Americas is a coalition of countries in the Western Hemisphere where we focus on the same priorities,” she explained.
The former governor of South Dakota indicated that she would leverage her experience from the Department of Homeland Security to advise and collaborate with these nations on border security and strategies to combat illegal and mass migration.
Economic and Security Parallels
Noem drew parallels between the Shield of the Americas and NATO, suggesting the new initiative could foster shared economic benefits. “I think it’s gonna’ be stronger than NATO because it’s bringing these countries into alignment with American values and American freedom,” she stated.
Past Controversies and Dismissal
The interview also touched upon Noem’s previous departure from the Department of Homeland Security. She was dismissed after testifying that the President had personally approved a controversial $220 million advertising campaign. This campaign prominently featured Noem in her home state of South Dakota, including images of her on horseback at Mount Rushmore and alongside a herd of bison.
During congressional questioning, it was suggested that Noem’s participation in the advertisement was intended for personal promotion rather than advancing the President’s agenda. When asked if the President had pre-approved the substantial ad spending featuring her image, Noem affirmed he had. This testimony reportedly placed the President in an awkward position, with him later denying any prior approval or review of the campaign.
Noem’s dismissal from DHS occurred on March 5, with her replacement subsequently confirmed by the Senate.
