Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem He was sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home on Saturday, after his schedule faltered earlier in the day.
The ceremony, which was originally scheduled to take place in the Indian Treaty Room inside the Navy Department wing of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., at 3 p.m., was postponed several times.
Noem shared a video of the moment on X, just after 6:30 p.m
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administers the oath of office to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry looks on. (X / @LAGovJeffLandry)
The Senate confirms Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security in the Trump administration
“It is an honor to be sworn in as Secretary of the United States Homeland security“, she wrote in the post. “This is made even more significant by the swearing-in of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home. Thank you, President (Donald) Trump, for trusting me to help keep America safe.”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry She shared photos of the event on X, just before 6 p.m., expressing her confidence in Noem to fill the role.
“Sharon and I were honored to be part of the swearing-in ceremony for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristin Noem,” Landry wrote in the post. “America will be safer and stronger because of her and @realDonaldTrump (President Donald Trump) Driving. Once again, Americans will be put first!”
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, left, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, and First Lady Sharon Landry. (X / @LAGovJeffLandry)
Fox News reporters reported that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Sen. Bernie Moreno and Sen. Mike Rounds were present in the Indian Treaty Room, awaiting the initial ceremony.
Taylor Van Kirk, the vice president's spokesman, told Fox News that the swearing-in was postponed “due to a scheduling conflict.”
“We are excited about the work she will do to bring about much-needed change at DHS and Border Security,” Kirk said.
Kristi Noem overcomes Senate confirmation hurdle, advances to final vote for DHS role
Earlier today, Senate The vote was 59-34 to confirm Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, making her the fourth Trump nominee to win Senate approval.
She added that one of Noem's top priorities is securing the southern border and fixing the “broken immigration system.”
“The Trump Administration will once again empower our brave men and women in law enforcement to do their jobs and remove criminal aliens and illegal gangs from our country,” Noem wrote in a statement. “We will fully equip our intelligence and law enforcement authorities to detect and prevent terrorist threats and provide rapid assistance and disaster relief to Americans in crisis.”
The Trump administration has already taken steps to secure the border, including deploying the military, resuming wall construction and ending the previous administration's parole programs.
Before taking the oath, President Noem shouted, calling it “cruel” during a rally in Las Vegas.
“I thank President Trump and the United States Senate for their confidence in me,” she wrote. “Together, we will ensure that the United States is, once again, a beacon of freedom, safety, and security for generations to come.”
Before assuming her new position, Noem served as the first female governor of South Dakota. It pledged in 2021 that it would not receive any more migrants from the Biden administration, and deployed the National Guard to the Texas border.
Noem was a farmer and small business owner who served in the South Dakota state legislature before being elected as South Dakota's lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Fox News' Julia Johnson, Lillian LeCroy and Adam Shaw of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
