Noem Misidentifies Nations in Geographic Blunder During Envoy Announcement
Kristi Noem, recently appointed as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, faced scrutiny after mistakenly identifying nations located outside of South America when asked about U.S. allies on the continent. The incident occurred during an appearance on Newsmax, where she was discussing her new role and the initiative.
New Role and Geographic Confusion
During the interview, anchor Greta Van Susteren posed the question, “Who is our best friend in South America at this point?” Noem responded by naming El Salvador, Ecuador, Argentina, and Costa Rica. However, El Salvador and Costa Rica are geographically situated in Central America, not South America.
Noem elaborated on the Shield of the Americas, describing it as “a coalition of countries in the Western Hemisphere where we focus on the same priorities.” She indicated that her experience at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would inform her advisory role to these nations, focusing on border security and efforts to curb illegal and mass migration.
She further compared the initiative’s potential to NATO, suggesting it could be “stronger than NATO because it’s bringing these countries into alignment with American values and American freedom.”
Background and Previous Controversy
The interview also touched upon Noem’s prior departure from her role as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. She was reportedly dismissed following her congressional testimony regarding a controversial $220 million advertising campaign that featured her prominently. The campaign included imagery of Noem on horseback at Mount Rushmore and alongside a herd of bison in her home state of South Dakota.
During her testimony, Noem stated that then-President Trump had personally approved the advertising initiative. However, this account was challenged by a fellow Republican, who expressed disbelief that the President would have sanctioned such a campaign without prior review. The President subsequently stated that he had not approved or reviewed the advertising, leading to Noem’s dismissal from DHS on March 5. Markwayne Mullin was later confirmed by the Senate as her successor.
