Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota has been under fire for admitting in an upcoming book that she killed an “untrainable” dog and a goat on her farm. Despite her conservative views and contrarian stance, Noem has been mentioned as a potential running mate for Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential elections.
Noem’s refusal to wear a face mask during the pandemic, her support for anti-abortion legislation, and her stance on gun rights have already garnered criticism. In her book, she describes how she had to euthanize her dog Cricket, who she deemed aggressive and unmanageable, as well as a goat that was causing trouble on her farm. She has been criticized for bragging about the killings, with some calling her actions sick and cruel.
The controversy surrounding Noem’s revelations has sparked debate and further scrutiny of her character and values. Critics, including former Trump employees and Democratic party spokespersons, have condemned Noem’s actions, questioning why she would boast about killing animals. Noem defends her actions by stating that difficult decisions often have to be made on a farm.