A new book about Donald Trump's return to power unveils previously undisclosed conversations between the former president and his son regarding South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
According to the New York Post, Trump made a pointed remark to Donald Trump Jr. about Noem's controversial admission of killing her family dog Cricket, stating, "Even you wouldn't kill a dog, and you kill everything."
The revelation comes from Alex Isenstadt's upcoming book "Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power," which details how the dog incident significantly impacted Noem's chances of becoming Trump's running mate.
The book also explores Trump's reaction to rumors about Noem's alleged relationship with former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and her stance on abortion laws in South Dakota.
The president-elect's comments about Noem's dog incident demonstrated his understanding of the public backlash despite his well-known dislike of dogs. Trump's joke to his son Donald Jr., an avid hunter, highlighted the political sensitivity of the situation. The incident involved Noem's decision to put down a 14-month-old wirehaired pointer named Cricket, which she detailed in her May 2024 book "No Going Back."
Noem described Cricket as both "untrainable" with an "aggressive personality" and defended her actions as an example of tough leadership decisions. She even drew parallels to President Biden's situation with his German shepherd Commander, who had bitten Secret Service agents. The Department of Homeland Security secretary-designate attempted to include this story in her previous book but was prevented by her publisher.
Trump's inner circle expressed concerns about Noem's relationship with Corey Lewandowski, his former 2016 campaign manager. The book reveals Trump's amusement at the gossip, quoting him as saying Lewandowski "knew how to bat out of his league."
During a February 2024 meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Trump questioned Noem about South Dakota's strict abortion ban. The discussion centered on the state's law, which prohibits abortion even in cases of rape or incest. Noem explained to Trump that she had inherited the legislation, which South Dakota voters have resisted modifying.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung responded to the book's claims with the following statement:
President Trump achieved a historic victory because he laid out a bold vision for this country after four disastrous years of Joe Biden. We will not dignify these type of salacious and unverified stories that have nothing to do with helping the American people or Making America Great Again.
Noem's team has strongly denied the allegations of an affair with Lewandowski. A spokesperson for the governor stated:
This wouldn't be the first time that you reported fake conversations that Governor Noem never had ... As I have said many times, the allegation of an affair is completely false. She never had conversations with President Trump or his team about a nonexistent affair. I look forward to seeing your book on the 'fiction' shelves.
The president-elect, now 78, has carefully considered various factors in his vice-presidential selection process. The book reveals that Noem's dog controversy, combined with concerns about her state's abortion laws and personal relationships, ultimately influenced Trump's decision-making. These revelations come as Noem prepares for her confirmation hearing as Department of Homeland Security secretary on Wednesday.
Lewandowski has maintained his silence regarding his association with Noem, repeatedly declining to comment on the record. His recent involvement in Trump's campaign during the final two months of the 2024 race and his current role in assisting Noem with the DHS transition has drawn attention from political observers.
The book "Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power" is scheduled for release on March 18, promising more insights into Trump's political decisions and the dynamics within his inner circle.
