Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her purported affair with Corey Lewandowski became the target of bipartisan humor at the Gridiron dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday night.
The controversy surrounding Noem’s approval of $220 million in taxpayer-funded advertisements, alongside her alleged romance with Lewandowski, which culminated in her dismissal, provided rich material for governors JB Pritzker (D) and Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), as well as attending journalists, who humorously critiqued the Trump administration officials during the prestigious white-tie gathering.
Governor Pritzker delivered a memorable zinger when he said, “I heard that Kristi and Corey have a safe word – ‘pardon,’” drawing laughter from the audience.
This joke was a nod to previous exclusive reporting by The Post earlier in the month, which revealed that Lewandowski, a key aide to Noem, had allegedly boasted about having carte blanche at the Department of Homeland Security due to his belief that former President Trump would grant him a pardon.
Pritzker further poked fun at Noem by referencing her controversial story about shooting her family dog. “Did you see the hearings right before Kristi got fired?” he asked. “Tom Tillis was tearing into her. She was speechless. It was like her dog ate her homework. But we all know that couldn’t happen.”
“Did you see the hearings right before Kristi got fired?” Pritzker said. “Tom Tillis ripping into her. She had no response. It was like her dog ate her homework. But we know that can’t be true.”
Meanwhile, Sanders joked that she sought out advice from Noem and others before the dinner.
“Mike Johnson told me to do whatever President Trump says. John Thune told me to ignore whatever President Trump says. And Kristi Noem was a huge help. She said, ‘Sarah, just tell them that the president already approved everything,” the Arkansas governor quipped.
During a disastrous Senate hearing earlier this month, Noem testified that Trump personally approved the DHS ad campaign, which prominently featured the former South Dakota governor.
However, in an interview with Reuters, Trump declared, “I never knew anything about it” when asked if he approved the ad campaign.
“In Arkansas, a nice podium is too much for a public official,” Sanders continued, referring to criticism she received for purchasing a $19,000 lectern, “but in Washington, it’s a $200 million ad campaign and three private jets.”
A full musical skit, written and performed by Gridiron journalists, was also dedicated to the alleged Noem-Lewandowski love affair.
The performance – set to the Sonny and Cher song, “I Got You Babe” – featured journalists dressed in ICE tactical gear singing backup lyrics.
“Your TV ads went way too far, Trump don’t like it when he’s not the star,” the reporter playing Lewandowski sang at one point.
Another lyric went, “Don’t worry boss, it’s not too late, I’ll bring you back in 2028.”
Noem’s stunning non-answer during a congressional hearing about whether she had “sexual relations” with Lewandowski was the “final straw” that prompted Trump to fire her, The Post previously reported.
