Kristi Noem was sworn in as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security after a bipartisan vote in the Senate
Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem was sworn in as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home on Saturday, following an appointment earlier in the day.
The ceremony, originally scheduled to take place in the Indian Treaty Room inside the Department of the Navy wing of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, at 3 p.m., has been postponed several times.
Noem shared a video of the moment on X shortly after 6:30 p.m
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administers the oath to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry looks on. (X / @LAGovJeffLandry)
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“It is such an honor to be sworn in as a Secretary of the United States Homeland security“, she wrote in the post. “It became even more significant because Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was sworn in at his home. Thank you, President [Donald] Trump for trusting me to help keep America safe.”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry shared photos of the event on X shortly before 6 p.m., expressing confidence that Noem would take on the role.
“Sharon and I were honored to be a part of the swearing in ceremony for Secretary of Homeland Security, @KristiNoem,” Landry wrote in the post. “America will be safer and stronger because of her and @realDonaldTrump [President Donald Trump]leadership. And again the Americans will be FIRST!”
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, left, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noah, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and First Lady Sharon Landry. (X / @LAGovJeffLandry)
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Sen. Bernie Moreno and Sen. Mike Rounds were present in the Indian Treaty Room, awaiting the commencement ceremony, Fox News correspondents reported.
Taylor Van Kirk, a spokesman for the vice president, told Fox News that the swearing-in was delayed “due to a scheduling conflict.”
“We are excited about the work she will do to bring much-needed changes to DHS and secure the border,” Kirk said.
KRISTI NOEM CLEARS SENATE CONFIRMATION OBSTACLE, REACHES FINAL VOTE FOR DHS ROLE
Earlier that day, senate voted 59-34 to confirm Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, making her the fourth Trump nominee to receive House confirmation.
One of Noem’s top priorities is securing the southern border and fixing a “broken immigration system,” she said.
“The Trump administration will re-energize our brave men and women in law enforcement to do their jobs and remove criminal aliens and illegal gangs from our country,” Noem wrote in a statement. “We will fully equip our intelligence services and forces to detect and prevent terrorist threats and provide rapid relief and disaster relief to Americans in crisis.”
The Trump administration has already taken steps to secure the border, including deploying the military, restarting construction of the wall and ending the previous administration’s parole program.
Before being sworn in, the president booed Noem at a rally in Las Vegas, describing her as “tough.”
“I thank President Trump and the US Senate for their trust in me,” she wrote. “Together, we will ensure that the United States is once again a beacon of freedom, safety and security for generations to come.”
Prior to her new role, Noem was the first female governor of South Dakota. She promised in 2021 that she would no longer accept migrants from the Biden administration and deployed the National Guard to the Texas border.
Noem, who was a rancher, farmer and small business owner, served in the South Dakota Legislature before being elected as South Dakota’s only member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Fox News’ Julia Johnson, Fox News Digital’s Lillian Lecroy and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
