Kristi Noem was recently seen with a displeased expression during her first public appearance following her removal by Trump from the position of Secretary of Homeland Security.
Noem had no choice but to observe the President as he delivered remarks at the Shield of the Americas Summit on Saturday, where he discussed his government’s strategy to confront drug cartels and reinforce the security of the U.S. border.
In a move that followed her abrupt dismissal on Thursday, Trump selected Noem to serve as a special envoy for a security initiative focused on these issues.
The Shield of the Americas is an alliance that includes over 17 Latin American nations committed to working alongside the U.S. to enhance security across the Western Hemisphere.
Noem’s new role involves collaborating with leaders throughout the Americas to tackle issues such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, and illegal immigration affecting both North and South America.
Trump has stated that the administration has already experienced significant success in its efforts to curb illegal imports entering the United States.
‘We knocked down drugs coming in by sea, drugs coming in through water 96 percent,’ he said at the conference in Miami.
‘We’re trying to find out who the other four percent are, because I think they must be the bravest people in the world.’
Kristi Noem put on a brave face at the summit which was held in Florida on Saturday
Trump addressed a crowd at the Summit on Saturday as Noem was forced to watch
With Noem sitting uncomfortably in the crowd, the president sang the praises of Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, who have spearheaded the new initiative.
Both Hegseth and Rubio addressed the crowd without a word from the latest addition to the initiative, Noem.
Trump went on about the accomplishments of Treasurer Scott Bessent and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, among other staff and constituents.
But for Noem, Trump simply mentioned her name among the list and moved on.
He made no comments about her accomplishments, as he did with the others who were aiding with the initiative, though she joined them on stage as leaders signed the coalition.
Several Latin American leaders, many of whom Trump mentioned by name, attended Saturday’s summit.
‘Everybody leader here today is united in the conviction that we cannot and will not tolerate the lawlessness in our hemisphere any longer,’ the president said.
Despite her humiliating dismissal and Saturday’s snub, Noem seemed grateful to the president for her new appointment with the Shield of the Americas.
She addressed the new role on her social media on Thursday.
Noem was appointed to a new position with the Shield of the Americas after she was fired
Noem will join Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth to spearhead the new initiative
Noem joined Trump and American leaders on stage as they signed the initiative
‘Thank you, President Trump, for appointing me as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas,’ she wrote.
‘Secretary Rubio and Secretary Hegseth are incredible leaders, and I look forward to working with them closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren.
‘The Western Hemisphere is absolutely critical for U.S. security. In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security.
‘We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again: we delivered the MOST secure border in American history, 3 million illegal aliens have left the U.S., we have located 145,000 children, FEMA delivered disaster relief at a 100% faster rate, we ushered in the golden age of travel, saved the American taxpayer $13 billion and revitalized the U.S. Coast Guard.’
Noem was fired amid mounting criticism of her handling of the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda.
She was replaced by Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin.
