Noem acknowledged that her nomination as Department of Homeland Security Secretary was “a bit of surprise" to many, but said she asked for the job because “it was the president’s number one priority.”
“I knew that it needed to have someone in the position that would do what the president promised the American people,” Noem said, someone “strong enough to do it and follow through to make sure that we’re protecting our communities and America.”
Sen. Rand Paul, the Republican chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said he would be looking for Noem "to lead an agency that has lost its way.”
Sen. Josh Hawley assailed Biden's DHS Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, saying he was a disgrace to the agency, and asked Noem whether she thought the southern border is secure.
“The southern border is not secure today,” said Noem. She said that once Trump enters the White House, "he will secure our border.”
As governor, Noem joined other Republican governors who sent National Guard troops to Texas to assist Operation Lone Star, which sought to deal with the millions of have been entering the country illegally.
Noem said she opted to send National Guard troops “because of this invasion." She said "it is a war zone down there.”
