Fact Check: Did Kristi Noem have an affair with former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski?
WASHINGTON, DC: In February 2026, a rumor resurfaced online claiming that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was having an affair with Corey Lewandowski, a former campaign manager for President Donald Trump.
The speculation about a romantic relationship between the two had circulated online since at least September 2021. But is there any truth to this rumor? Let us find out below.
Claim: Kristi Noem had an affair with Corey Lewandowski
Social media posts cited a February 12 Wall Street Journal report that discussed Pam Bondi and Corey Lewandowski's rumored relationship. According to online reports, both Noem and Lewandowski are married with children.
A Facebook post by the account Feminist News read, "The Wall Street Journal recently detailed a rumored romantic relationship between DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, her de facto chief of staff, amid reports of chaos at the department."
"Both Noem (54, married with children) and Lewandowski (52, also married with children) have long denied these allegations, with Noem previously calling them a 'disgusting lie,' though sources claim they make little effort to hide their closeness within DHS," the post added.
It also mentioned, "President Trump and his advisors reportedly feel 'uncomfortable' with the dynamic; Trump rejected Lewandowski as official chief of staff due to the affair rumors, which he continues to mention."
The rumor surfaced online since at least September 2021, when the website American Greatness reported that the two were allegedly involved in an extramarital affair, citing multiple anonymous sources.
Moreover, it resurfaced two years later when the Daily Mail published an article, claiming the pair had engaged in a 'clandestine affair'.
Fact Check: Unproven, the claim remains an unconfirmed fact
The claim that Kristi Noem had an affair with Corey Lewandowski is unproven and remains an allegation, not a confirmed fact. Reports making the claim have primarily relied on anonymous sources.
Moreover, both Noem and Lewandowski have publicly denied the rumor on multiple occasions. An unnamed DHS spokesperson informed Snopes, "This Department doesn't waste time with salacious, baseless gossip."
In 2021, Noem, then South Dakota's governor, dismissed the rumor on X, calling it 'total garbage and a disgusting lie'. Several news media outlets reported her response.
She wrote, "These old, tired attacks on conservative women are based on a falsehood that we can't achieve anything without a man's help. I love [my husband] Bryon. I'm proud of the God-fearing family we've raised together. Now I'm getting back to work."
