South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has found herself at the center of controversy following revelations in her upcoming memoir, “No Going Back”. In her book, Noem details the euthanization of her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, and an unnamed goat due to their behavior, which has sparked significant backlash and public debate.

Additionally, Noem made a contentious claim within the memoir about an alleged meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This claim led to further scrutiny when, in a “Face the Nation” interview, she avoided direct answers about the meeting’s authenticity. Subsequently, her office admitted this was an error and that the inclusion of Kim Jong Un in the book was a mistake. Other claims by Noem, such as turning down a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, have also been disputed by Macron’s office.

Noem’s political connections were also highlighted in a recently leaked audio from former President Donald Trump at a private lunch at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump discussed potential running mates for the 2024 election, praising Noem, which suggests a strong alliance between them despite her current controversies.

In popular culture, Noem’s actions were satirized on “Saturday Night Live,” where her decision to kill her dog was critiqued humorously, reflecting widespread media attention and public disapproval of her actions in the memoir.

Governor Noem defends her controversial decisions in her book by citing laws that allow for the disposal of animals harming livestock, framing them as tough but necessary actions similar to decisions in political leadership. Despite the uproar and calls for retractions, Noem has remained firm in her stance of not retracting parts of her memoir.