Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

MAGA Gov. Kristi Noem Defends Her 'Responsible' Killing Of Puppy She Didn't Like After Outrage

Kristi Noem
Kamil Krzacczynski/AFP via Getty Images

After the South Dakota GOP Governor admitted in her new memoir that she had fatally shot a 14-month-old puppy Cricket because it was 'less than worthless' at hunting and had an 'aggressive personality,' she later defended the decision on social media.

After South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem admitted in her new book to killing her "untrainable" 14-month-old puppy Cricket, she found herself at the center of a media storm that's threatened her viability as a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump.

Noem laid out the decision to kill the dog in her forthcoming memoir No Going Back. She wrote that “Cricket was a wirehair pointer, about 14 months old" with an “aggressive personality." She said she "hated" the "untrainable" dog and decided to shoot Cricket after taking her to a gravel pit.


The disturbing anecdote first garnered attention after The Guardianreported on it, noting that Noem also wrote about killing a goat she claimed was "nasty and mean" and “loved to chase” Noem's children.

Now she's defending her decision to kill the dog, saying in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, that she "can understand why some people are upset about a 20-year-old story of Cricket, one of the working dogs at our ranch, in my upcoming book."

She added:

The book is filled with many honest stories of my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions, and lessons learned."
"What I learned from my years of public service, especially leading South Dakota through COVID, is people are looking for leaders who are authentic, willing to learn from the past, and don’t shy away from tough challenges. My hope is anyone reading this book will have an understanding that I always work to make the best decisions I can for the people in my life."
"The fact is, South Dakota law states that dogs who attack and kill livestock can be put down. Given that Cricket had shown aggressive behavior toward people by biting them, I decided what I did."

Noem framed the story as an example of the grimmer aspects of farm life that sometimes have to be faced. She said she has "never passed on my responsibilities to anyone else to handle" and that she had simply "followed the law and was being a responsible parent, dog owner, and neighbor."

You can see her post below.

In another post, Noem highlighted the article from The Guardian, once again positioning her story within the context of farm life, where difficult decisions about animals are part of daily reality.

She framed the killing of her dog as a necessary and common decision, writing:

"We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm. Sadly, we just had to put down 3 horses a few weeks ago that had been in our family for 25 years. If you want more real, honest, and politically INcorrect stories that’ll have the media gasping, preorder 'No Going Back.'"

You can see her post below.

But no one was buying her attempts to rationalize animal cruelty.



Political prognosticators believe Noem's admission and the resulting bipartisan outrage have potentially torpedoed her chances of being Trump's running mate.

In September 2023, Noem said she would be Trump's 2024 running mate “in a heartbeat.” She said the possibility is attractive to her "because you respect the position and the person who asks you to do something and then see if you really believe that you could make a difference."

At the time, Noem suggested she would be a great partner on the campaign trail because "Trump needs a strong partner if he’s going to take back the White House." She said he needs someone "who knows what it’s like to run a business, to be an employee, earn a paycheck, but also having a wife, mom, and grandma isn’t bad either.”

More from Trending

Tim Walz; Elon Musk
Mario Tama/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Tim Walz Promises To Stop Mocking Musk Over Tesla's Decline—But Only On One Condition

After billionaire Elon Musk called Minnesota Governor and former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz a "huge jerk" for openly celebrating Tesla's stock market tumble, Walz assured Musk he'd stop—but only if Musk takes his hands off Social Security benefits for millions of Americans.

Late last month, as news outlets reported that Tesla shares have plunged over 40% since January, wiping out the entire “Trump bump” that had temporarily driven the stock up more than 90% following Election Day, Walz said he added Tesla to the stock app on his phone to add a pick-me-up to his day.

Keep ReadingShow less
Viola Davis; Timothée Chalamet
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images

Viola Davis' Reaction To Getting Shoutout In Timothée Chalamet's SAG Awards Speech Has Fans Cheering

It's always nice when one talented person in a field can recognize another.

This was the case when actor Timothée Chalamet, accepting his SAG award earlier this year, called fellow actor Viola Davis as "one of the greats" in his acceptance speech.

Keep ReadingShow less
Carrie Coon
HBO

'White Lotus' Star Carrie Coon Reveals Why Scene With Her Character's Nonbinary Child Was Cut

The third season of HBO's The White Lotus hasn't shied away from depicting our dark moment in American politics, but there was one story element that proved a bridge too far, it seems.

In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, actor Carrie Coon said her character Laurie was supposed to have a nonbinary child with they/them pronouns. But the brief scene between her and her child was cut following Trump's election.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vivian Wilson; Elon Musk
@vivllainous/Instagram, Scott Olson/Getty Images

Vivian Wilson Claims Elon Musk's Former Liberal Views Were Just A 'Marketing Scheme'

Elon Musk's estranged trans daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson set the record straight about the tech billionaire's supposed liberal beginnings, alleging that his persona was merely a ruse and part of a “marketing scheme.”

Wilson, who legally changed her name and identity in 2022 when she was 18, interviewed with YouTuber and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who asked her what the "transition was like for your dad to go from a liberal darling…"

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Slammed After Saying He's 'Not Joking' About Running For A Third Term

Republican President Donald Trump was ridiculed for insisting he was "not joking" about running for a third presidential term, which would violate the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment, stating a President cannot be elected beyond a second term.

In an NBC interview Sunday morning, Trump maintained his allies were pushing for a third term for the Trump administration.

Keep ReadingShow less