Internet slams 'puppy killer' Kristi Noem as she tells Jesse Watters she stands by story about her pet

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a recent interview on Jesse Watters' Primetime show, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem found herself in the hot seat, facing probing questions about a particularly controversial chapter in her new book.

Watters wasted no time in confronting Noem about the unsettling account of her decision to shoot her dog, Cricket, which she detailed in her memoir.

Kristi Noem tells Jesse Watters she doesn't regret killing her aggressive puppy

Noem's narrative describes Cricket as a problematic pet, prone to aggressive behavior towards both people and animals. After the dog repeatedly caused trouble, including killing several chickens, Noem made the difficult choice to take Cricket to a gravel pit and kill it.

The governor didn't mince words, referring to Cricket as "less than worthless." However, the inclusion of this story in her book has ignited a firestorm of criticism from various quarters, with many questioning the governor's judgment and compassion.

Some pundits have even speculated about the potential damage to Noem's political ambitions, particularly regarding rumors of her being considered for the vice-presidential ticket alongside Donald Trump.

During the interview, Watters didn't shy away from asking the tough questions. He challenged Noem on whether she regretted sharing the story and if she understood why it had elicited such a negative reaction. Noem defended her decision, framing it as a matter of prioritizing her family's safety over the welfare of a dangerous animal.

"I'll tell you what, it's the facts," Noem asserted, standing by her account of the events.

Kristi Noem defends killing her puppy amid intense scrutiny

Despite Watters' pointed inquiries, Noem remained steadfast, asserting that the story was a factual account of a difficult decision she had made in the past. She maintained that the dog posed a genuine threat to both her family and her business, which included a hunting lodge open to the public.

"What happens if you are debating Kamala Harris and she says, 'Well, wait a second, you shot your dog and you wrote a book about it, bragging about it. How can you be vice president?'" Watters asked.

“Everybody’s known that story for years,” she insisted. “Most people don’t realize that in South Dakota they’ve used that story to attack me and my political campaigns for years. I wanted people to know the truth. This dog was vicious, it was dangerous, it was killing livestock for the joy of it and attacking people. And I had a choice between keeping my family safe, I had little kids at the time, a very public business of inviting people to come out and enjoy our hunting lodge and our business, and I don’t pass my responsibilities off to anybody else.”

“So, you’re standing by the dog story?” Jesse asked.

“I’ll tell you what, it’s the facts,” Noem answered.

Internet lambasts Kristi Noem after she interview with Jesse Watters 

Amid the intense scrutiny and mounting backlash, Governor Kristi Noem's defense of her decision to euthanize her dog Cricket continues to draw widespread criticism.

One user wrote, "She’s back on again. Every time she comes on TV the story changes and she looks even worse. She’s finished."

Another added, "Kristi, it gets more pathetic each time you lie about your gruesome dog abuse. You are neither honest nor humane."

One user replied, "Kristi Noem is not fit to be a politician."

Another said, "Noem just cannot help herself. She just makes matters worse every time she speaks. What a disgrace."

One user wrote, "Just keep digging that hole girl! It’s over."

Another said, "The more she talks, the worse it gets! Now, she’s caught in lies that she can’t talk her way out of and it makes her look terrible."

One user said, "Puppy killer!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.