On Tuesday, Kristi Noem faced tough questioning from a Republican senator after attributing to the White House her assertion that an ICE shooting victim was a ‘domestic terrorist.’

Senator John Kennedy, known for his staunch support of Trump and conservative stance, sought clarification from Noem regarding her labeling of Alex Pretti—a nurse in an intensive care unit—who was fatally shot by an immigration agent in January. This inquiry took place during a session of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Initially, Noem accused Pretti of engaging in domestic terrorism shortly after he was shot by a border patrol officer. However, video evidence later surfaced showing agents retrieving a holstered gun from Pretti prior to the shooting. Subsequently, the Homeland Security Secretary retracted Noem’s statement, shifting the blame to Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, for influencing her remarks about Pretti.

Senator Kennedy from Louisiana expressed his concerns, stating, “What stood out to me was your decision to attribute those comments to Stephen Miller at the White House.”

Noem countered, suggesting, “You’re basing that on a news article citing unnamed sources.”

However, Kennedy quickly retorted, “But you made this statement publicly.”

The senator read from her statement to Axios on January 27, where Noem said: ‘Everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen.’

‘Do you think it was fair to blame Mr. Miller,’ Kennedy said. The senator then demanded Noem testify under oath over whether she was denying making the statement blaming Miller. 

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on ‘Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security,’ on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 3

Noem refused: ‘Sir I’m not going to speak to that situation that is relayed by anonymous sources.’

The Daily Mail has previously reported that the comments made by Noem blaming Miller was orchestrated and pushed behind-the-scenes by her rumored lover and longtime adviser Corey Lewandowski.

Noem was supported in the hearing by her rarely-seen husband Bryon Noem and ‘angel moms’ whose children have been killed by illegal migrants.

In recent months, she has more often appeared alongside longtime adviser Corey Lewandowski, with whom she has been dogged by rumors of a personal relationship. 

The Daily Mail previously reported that Noem and Lewandowski have been engaged in a years-long romantic affair. Both are married and have denied the claims.  

A DHS source told the Daily Mail that Noem’s decision to appear at the hearing next to her husband was all about maintaining ‘optics’ as rumors swirl about her mysterious marriage.

‘The fact she’s bringing her family to these events instead of the usual Lewandowski tells me she’s aware of how she looks in the media and that she’s trying to get the news cycles about her and Lewandowski behind her,’ official said.

Senators pressed the Homeland Security secretary over her high-end travel, including the use of private jets, and the department’s controversial immigration crackdown in Minneapolis that resulted in the deaths of two Americans. 

DHS is currently operating under a partial shutdown after a funding lapse that began in February, when Senate Democrats blocked a full-year appropriations bill over objections to Noem’s immigration enforcement policies. As a result, roughly 90 percent of DHS employees are continuing to work without pay.

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem takes her seat as she arrives to testify during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on March 3

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem takes her seat as she arrives to testify during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on March 3

Kristi and Bryon Noem have been married since 1992 and have three children

Corey Lewandowski is seen leaving Kristi Noem’s building with an overnight bag on Thursday, April 24th, 2025

A former FEMA employee disrupted Noem’s opening remarks and was later escorted out of the hearing room by multiple Capitol Police officers.

Noem blasted the Democratic-led shutdown of DHS as ‘reckless’ and ‘unnecessary,’ accusing lawmakers of holding the department hostage and undermining national security. 

‘I want to thank my husband for being here in support as well,’ Noem said at the conclusion of her opening remarks. The couple have been married since 1992 and have three children.

Kristi Noem arrives to testify before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on ‘Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security,’ on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 3

US Senator John Kennedy, Republican from Louisiana, speaks with a group of mothers who say they lost children to violence by undocumented immigrants, before US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrives to testify during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on March 3

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrives to testify during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on March 3

Terry Almanza holds a picture of her late daughter Sydney Schergen, who died from ecstasy (MDMA) overdose, ahead of U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s appearance before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on ‘Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security,’ on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 3