'Weird flex but okay': Kristi Noem trolled after falsely claiming she met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in new book

PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA: Gov Kristi Noem of South Dakota’s upcoming biography, 'No Going Back,' set for release on Tuesday, May 7, is undergoing corrections to rectify inaccuracies, a spokesperson for Noem confirmed on Friday, May 3.

The book, which has garnered significant anticipation amid speculation regarding Noem’s potential as a running mate for former President Donald J Trump, has already sparked controversy over its contents.

Specifically, a passage detailing an unsettling anecdote involving the killing of a family dog has drawn sharp criticism.

Additionally, Noem’s memoir contains a misstep concerning the timing of a phone conversation with Nikki Haley, former South Carolina governor. Ian Fury, Noem's chief of communications, assured that these errors would be addressed in subsequent editions of the book.

“It was brought to our attention that the upcoming book ‘No Going Back’ has two small errors,” Fury stated. “This has been communicated to the ghostwriter and editor. Kim Jong-un was included in a list of world leaders and shouldn’t have been.”

NoemKim Jong Un encounter claim and backlash

In an excerpt obtained by The New York Times ahead of its official publication, Noem recalls a purported encounter with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during her tenure as South Dakota’s sole representative in Congress.

She recounts the meeting in the context of her involvement with the House Armed Services Committee.

“I had the chance to travel to many countries to meet with world leaders — some who wanted our help, and some who didn’t,” Noem writes. “I remember when I met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. I’m sure he underestimated me, having no clue about my experience staring down little tyrants (I’d been a children’s pastor, after all). Dealing with foreign leaders takes resolve, preparation, and determination.”

Unsurprisingly, the South Dakota governor was widely trolled on social media for falsely claiming she met Kim Jong Un.

"Kristi Noem is becoming a liability. She’s now making up stories about meeting Kim Jong Un," one posted on X.

"Weird flex but okay," someone else quipped.

"Ooof! That actually sounds far-fetched," another wrote.

"She's history. So much potential. Good we find out now," a comment read.

"Noem needs to resign," another insisted.

Noem's memoir sparks controversy over depiction of conversations with Nikki Haley

Equally controversial is Noem's depiction of a conversation with Haley, where she implies a veiled threat from the former governor.

“I’m pretty sure I was just threatened by Nikki Haley. It was clear that she wanted me to know that there was only room for one Republican woman in the spotlight. It was weird," she writes.

Haley’s spokesperson, Chaney Denton, vehemently refuted Noem’s characterization.

“Nikki has long called and written notes supporting other women when they go through challenging times,” Denton said in a statement. “She called Governor Noem in 2020 to encourage her when she was criticized for keeping her state open during Covid. How she would twist that into a threat is just plain weird.”

Future editions of the book will correct the timeline of events, clarifying the sequence of interactions between Noem and Haley. Notably, Fury did not disclose additional revisions to the contentious passage, in which Noem perceives Haley's words as a challenge to her authority.

Despite the controversy surrounding these anecdotes, Noem's memoir aims to bolster her standing as a Trump loyalist, stressing her unwavering support for the former president.

Notably, she recounts defending Trump “regardless of the fact that what unfolded on January 6 was undeniably ugly.” 

However, the narrative surrounding the book has predominantly centered on the polarizing episode involving the shooting of Noem's family dog, Cricket, an act that has elicited widespread condemnation.

Noem defended her actions during an appearance on Fox News, portraying the incident as emblematic of the “tough, challenging decisions that I’ve had to make throughout my life.”

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