Washington — South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stood firm on Sunday, stating that she is "not retracting anything" despite facing criticism over controversial stories involving her young dog and a false claim about meeting Kim Jong Un. Noem did mention that the latter story will be adjusted in her upcoming book.
"I'm incredibly proud of this book and the impact it will have on people," Noem expressed on "Face the Nation" over the weekend. "I stand by my words and I am not retracting anything."
- Transcript: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on "Face the Nation," May 5, 2024
The Republican governor, previously considered as a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump during his last White House campaign, has faced significant backlash following revelations in her new book regarding the death of her dog many years ago, a narrative that has gained widespread attention in recent days.
In her book, Noem recounts the incident involving her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer named Cricket, detailing the dog's aggressive behavior during training for pheasant hunting. She defended her decision on Sunday, emphasizing that she chose to protect her children from what she deemed to be a "dangerous animal."
"I would ask everybody in the country to put themselves in that situation," she said. "As a mom, I made a choice between protecting my children, and protecting them from a dangerous animal that was killing livestock and attacking people."
But the anecdote has spurred questions about her political future. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Politico that Noem's writing about killing her dog "ended any possibility of her being picked as VP."
Noem defended the anecdote and the book more broadly, saying it's "filled with vulnerable painful moments in my life."
"I want the truth to be out there and to understand that these animals were attacking my children, that we live on a farm and a ranch and that tough decisions are made many times and it is to protect people," Noem said.
She added that the reason the story is in the book is because "people need to understand who I am" and some of the "difficult decisions" she's made. She said that the story is "well known in South Dakota" and her "political opponents have tried to use against me for years."
The South Dakota governor has also faced scrutiny for details in the book about mentioning a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during her time in Congress that appeared to be an error. Noem said the anecdote shouldn't have been included in the book and has been adjusted.
She made a request to have this anecdote removed, deeming it unsuitable for the current moment.
