South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has become embroiled in controversy following admissions in her memoir about personal actions and inaccuracies regarding her political encounters. One of the most contentious revelations from her book was her decision to shoot and kill a dog called Cricket, as well as an uncastrated goat, citing the safety of her family and the behavior of the animals on her property. Noem described Cricket as a dangerous animal that disrupted a pheasant hunt and killed a neighbor’s chickens, and she considered the dog untrainable and aggressive.

These incidents have sparked backlash and raised questions about her decision-making, with some critics suggesting that the animals could have been handled in a less lethal manner, such as relocation to an animal shelter.

Further complicating Noem’s public and political standing are revelations of inaccuracies in her memoir, including a recanted story about meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This has led to criticism about her credibility and contributed to a decline in her polling numbers. The controversy was significant enough that a Republican fundraiser where she was scheduled to appear was cancelled due to threats made against event staff and the Governor herself.

Adding to her challenges, former President Donald Trump, who once considered Noem as a potential vice-presidential candidate, reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with her after learning of the incidents.

Amid these tumultuous events, Governor Noem defended her actions during an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation”, stating the necessity of making tough choices to protect her family and property. Despite the criticism and the factual disputes in her memoir, she has committed to correcting the errors and continues to maintain a firm stance on her controversial decisions.