Kristi Noem’s Geography Slip-Up Sparks Criticism
During a recent television appearance, Kristi Noem, the former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, made a notable error when identifying the United States’ closest allies in South America. While discussing her new role as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas on Newsmax, Noem named El Salvador and Costa Rica as key partners on the continent.
Anchor Greta Van Susteren posed the question: “Who is our best friend in South America at this point?” Noem responded by listing several nations, stating, “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.”
Geographic Clarification Needed
However, El Salvador and Costa Rica are geographically situated in Central America, not South America, leading to immediate scrutiny of her remarks. This geographical misstep occurred as Noem was also tasked with explaining her new position and the objectives of the Shield of the Americas initiative.
Shield of the Americas Explained
Noem described the Shield of the Americas as “a coalition of countries in the Western Hemisphere where we focus on the same priorities.” She indicated that she would be leveraging her experience from her time at the Department of Homeland Security to advise and collaborate with these nations on border security and strategies to combat illegal and mass migration.
She further elaborated on the potential economic advantages of this initiative, drawing a comparison to NATO. “I think it’s gonna’ be stronger than NATO because it’s bringing these countries into allignment with American values and American freedom,” Noem asserted.
Background on Noem’s Departure from DHS
The interview also touched upon Noem’s prior departure from her role at DHS. She had been dismissed following her testimony before a congressional committee regarding a controversial $220 million advertising campaign. The campaign prominently featured Noem in her home state of South Dakota, depicting her on horseback and alongside a herd of bison.
During her testimony, Noem stated that the President had personally approved the advertisement. A Republican colleague questioned this assertion, suggesting that the commercial seemed designed for Noem’s personal promotion rather than advancing the President’s agenda. The colleague expressed skepticism, finding it difficult to believe the President would have approved such a campaign without direct review, especially with Noem prominently featured.
The White House reportedly experienced significant fallout from this exchange. Noem was subsequently terminated from her position at DHS, with her replacement confirmed by the Senate shortly thereafter.
