Noem repeated a falsehood that Trump shared during the 2024 presidential campaign. There are not more than 13,000 murderers or nearly 16,000 sex offenders "loose" in the U.S. Her statement is based on a misinterpreted letter sent by ICE in late 2024.

The farmer and small-business owner turned elected official has made headlines for being a possible vice presidential candidate and killing an "untrainable" dog.