NBC's Julia Ainsley claims Kristi Noem shooting her dog 'helped Trump choose her' in upcoming book

WASHINGTON, DC: In her upcoming book, NBC correspondent Julia Ainsley has claimed that President Donald Trump saw Kristi Noem’s controversial admission about shooting her dog as an “asset” and a factor in choosing her to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The revelation, reported by The Atlantic, suggests the admission that once sparked bipartisan outrage may have strengthened Noem’s standing with Trump rather than damaging it.

Julia Ainsley's revelation about Kristi Noem, Donald Trump

In 'Undue Process: The Inside Story of Trump’s Mass Deportation Program', Ainsley writes that while the backlash over Noem’s memoir knocked her out of contention for vice president, Trump interpreted the episode differently when considering her for DHS secretary.

According to excerpts from the book Trump viewed the story as evidence of toughness and a willingness to make difficult and even brutal decisions, traits he reportedly prioritized for a role overseeing border enforcement and immigration policy.

The account suggests Trump “saw this particular biographical detail as an asset in his homeland-security secretary,” adding that “it was one of the reasons he chose her.”

The incident continues to haunt Noem as she continues to draw condemnation from across political spectrum.

The Guardian expose and public backlash

The firestorm began when UK-based publication The Guardian obtained an advance copy of Noem’s memoir ahead of the 2024 election.

In the book, Noem, then governor of South Dakota, had described shooting her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, calling it “less than worthless” and writing, “I hated that dog”.

She also recounted killing a “nasty and mean” goat. 

The disclosures led to severe backlash against Noem on social media, with many using the incident to question her brand of leadership and judgement.

Reports at the time indicated that even Trump was privately “disgusted” by the anecdote and concerned about its political fallout, allegedly asking, “What is wrong with her?”

Noem defended including the story, arguing it reflected her leadership philosophy.

“People are looking for leaders who are authentic, willing to learn from the past, and don’t shy away from tough challenges,” she wrote in 2024.

“My hope is anyone reading this book will have an understanding that I always work to make the best decisions I can.”

In a podcast with Miranda Devine in September, Noem defended the killing with firmness and also revealed killing a goat who “loved to chase her children".

“The dog was actively killing animals for fun, had been massacring chickens and then had tried to bite me and attack me,” Noem had said on the podcast.

The incident was also a featured in the episode of hit comedy show 'South Park'. The episode showed Noem dressed up as ICE agent, firing and killing a dog.