South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, once considered a potential 2024 running mate for former President Trump, faced public backlash after admitting to killing her “untrainable” hunting dog. , she received a warm welcome at a California Republican Party gathering on Saturday.
Noem, a champion of gun rights, has warned of dangers to the country and her conservative leadership in rural states, including her refusal to shut down the government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“2024 is our election year, and I don’t think it’s about Republicans and Democrats anymore. I don’t think it’s about party,” Noem told more than 200 people at the California Republican Convention lunch in Burlingame, south of San Francisco. The man said. “I think it’s a story about people who love America and people who are trying to destroy America.”
She did not directly mention the incident involving her dog, which she writes about in her book, “No Turning Back: The Truth About Politics and How We Can Move America Forward,” which was released this month.
But Noem addressed the controversy over her decision to kill a 14-month-old wirehaired pointer named Cricket in a gravel pit because he was a poor retriever, and also killed some of the farm’s chickens .
“Listen, I have a book out. You might have heard a little bit about it,” Norm said with a smile. “I guarantee you, if you listen to the media, you are not hearing the truth. So I suggest you read it.
Luncheon attendees received copies of the book when they purchased their tickets; Noem signed copies and posed for selfies after her remarks. Ticket prices range from $300 to $575, with the top price also including an invitation to the reception with Norm.
Cricket stories were a topic of conversation for many attendees.
“We found out that Governor Kristi Noem was going to be the keynote address at our convention, and everyone was very excited. She’s dynamic, engaging, and might be on the short list for vice president. . . ” Four days later , we found out about the dog-killing story and everyone was like, “Huh? ” Even Trump is not a dog person, but even he would say, ‘She’s had a rough week.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks at the California Republican Party’s spring convention in Burlingame, California, on Saturday.
(Loren Elliott/The Times)
He added that the upheaval showed California Republicans were having bad luck.
Noem’s speech focused on her leadership of South Dakota, especially during the pandemic, and her decision to send the state’s National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas to stem the influx of unauthorized immigrants into the country. country. She again warned drug cartels of using Native American tribal lands in her state to commit crimes, comments that led some tribes to ban Nome from their reservations.
“The cartels have moved into the central part of our country. They have established a base on my tribal reservation, they are proliferating drug trafficking and human trafficking, they are raping our children and women in South Dakota, and they are doing so under federal restrictions. protections because the federal government refuses to bring law and order to these communities and keep people safe,” Noem said.
She said she had no jurisdiction because the tribal lands are a sovereign government and accused President Biden of failing to intervene.
Noem, who was reportedly on Trump’s short list of potential running mates but withdrew before the book sparked controversy, also praised the former president as a real American unlike most politicians.
“What did Donald Trump do when he announced he was running for president? The guy came down the golden escalator,” she said. “I was shocked by this. I thought, ‘This is going to be the worst campaign plan I’ve ever seen in my life.
Noem quipped that her state has two escalators and that most South Dakotans can’t understand escalators, a moment Noem believed showed how genuine Trump is.
“The great thing is he doesn’t pretend to be someone he’s not,” she said. “He is who he is.”
Anna Bryson, a state Republican representative and former Orange County school board member who attended the luncheon, said she was most impressed by Noem’s financial acumen, especially her efforts to reduce taxes.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks at the California Republican Party’s spring convention in Burlingame, California, on Saturday.
(Loren Elliott/The Times)
“As someone who is committed to creating the best economy for everyone, I was impressed, but I didn’t really Prepare to be impressed “So I have to give her a lot of credit for the sound financial policies that she’s put in place. “
She dismissed the dog controversy because Norm is a rancher, as is Bryson’s family.
“When you talk to the average American, their dogs are very important in the family, like they’re family members… It’s a different world,” she added. “I’m sure she’s going to regret it. Who wouldn’t? But for all of us in politics, if you’re elected, you’ve experienced moments where we didn’t say exactly what we meant, right?
More than 800 delegates, alternates and guests attended the conference, held at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame. The last time the state Republican Party met in Burlingame was in 2016, when protesters clashed with police outside over an appearance by then-presidential candidate Trump. There were no protests outside the hotel Saturday afternoon, but several police officers were stationed around the building.
Times staff writer Annabel Sosa contributed to this report.
