Mainstream outlets grilled Noem about “celebrating the killing of the animals” and her fake meeting with Kim Jong Un
Noem recently made two separate appearances on CBS shows on Face the Nation and CBS Mornings to discuss her new book, No Going Back.
During those appearances, CBS hosts grilled Noem about the controversial chapter in her book in which she admitted to shooting her 14-month-old dog Cricket, as well as a now-retracted passage about a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
On May 5, when Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan asked why she shot her dog and if she regretted sharing the story, Noem defended her actions, arguing that she was “protecting” her children and livestock. The next day, on CBS Mornings, she reiterated her claim that she was protecting her family and told the story so “people would know I don’t pass my responsibilities onto anybody else."
At one point, Brennan asked Noem about another passage in her book in which she suggested that President Joe Biden’s dog, Commander, should be euthanized.
“Are you doing this to try to look tough?” Brennan asked.
“Well, number one, Joe Biden’s dog has attacked 24 Secret Service people,” Noem said. “So how many people is enough people to be attacked and dangerously hurt before you make a decision on a dog and what to do with it?”
Noting that Commander has been removed from the White House, the moderator asked, “You’re saying [Commander] should be shot?” Noem replied: “That’s what the president should be accountable to.”
Brennan also asked Noem about another passage in which she admitted to shooting a family goat and commented that it seemed as though the governor was “celebrating the killing of the animals.”
Noem was also asked in her CBS interviews about her book’s now-retracted claim that she met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un while serving in Congress on the House Armed Services Committee. She deflected, saying that she has met with “many, many world leaders.”
Following the interview, Noem decried CBS as “fake news” and claimed that conservatives “are always treated differently” in mainstream media.
During a May 6 appearance on Elizabeth Vargas Reports, News Nation host Elizabeth Vargas also grilled Noem about the inclusion of Kim in her book.
Vargas asked Noem why she “didn’t notice” the factual error when recording the audiobook version of her memoir and told Noem she was just trying to “get a straight answer from it.”
Noem’s publisher, Center Street, has stated that it is removing the passage about Kim from the book and has directed “further questions about the passage” to Noem.
Noem retreated to right-wing media, where she faced similarly tough questioning from conservative outlets
Even after Noem retreated to right-wing media to promote her book, she did not escape criticism and tough questions.
During a May 7 interview with Noem, Newsmax host Rob Finnerty said, “I don’t even think you’re on the list” to be Trump’s vice president pick.
In reference to Noem’s decision to discuss shooting Cricket in her book, Fox Business host Stuart Varney told her, “Many people are questioning your political future.” Varney and Noem then sparred over whether Cricket was a puppy when she killed her. Noem ended the interview saying, “This interview is ridiculous.”
