From DHS’ advertising budget to dog killings to the controversy surrounding Noem.
Kristi Noem’s year as Homeland Security Secretary has been one filled with controversy.
Kristi Noem is divorcing her husband of 34 years, Bryon Noem, her mother has said. This marked the end of their marriage in public, but they came under renewed scrutiny this year after a tabloid investigation revealed allegations about their private lives.
Noem’s mother, Corinne Arnold, told the Daily Mail that the former Homeland Security secretary shared the decision with her family this spring. The revelations come months after the Daily Mail reported that Bryon Noem paid adult entertainers to cross-dress during role-playing encounters, leaving his family “blindsided,” a spokesperson said.
“I said, ‘What’s going on? Are we going to get together again?’ And she said, ‘No.’ No, we’re getting a divorce,” Arnold told the outlet.
Arnold said Nomu revealed the plan to her family as they gathered to celebrate the birthday of one of the couple’s grandchildren.
“It was difficult, but we knew this was going to happen, we knew we were going to get divorced,” Arnold said.
Noem was fired from her post as Secretary of Homeland Security on March 5 and was later appointed special envoy for the Trump administration’s “America’s Shield” initiative. USA TODAY could not reach Kristi Noem for comment.
Why did Kristi Noem get divorced?
Arnold said Noem revealed her plans shortly after the Daily Mail reported allegations about Noem’s private life.
A British tabloid reported that Brian Noem paid adult entertainers to cross-dress during role-playing roles. The outlet said the report was based on messages, recordings and photos of him allegedly wearing women’s clothing and using props.
After the report was released, a spokesperson for Kristi Noem told the New York Post that she was “devastated” by the allegations.
“The family is blindsided by this and asks for privacy and prayers at this time,” the spokesperson said.
Who is Brian Noem?
Bryon and Kristi Noem were married in 1992 in Watertown, South Dakota, and have three children, Cassidy, Kennedy and Booker, according to the National Governors Association.
Bryon Noem works in the insurance industry and holds a degree in business finance from Northern State University. Before becoming an insurance agent, he coached basketball and worked on the Noem family farm.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
