Sec. Kristi Noem transported to hospital in Washington, D.C.
Former South Dakota governor working in Trump administration suffers allergic reaction
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was hospitalized Tuesday in Washington, D.C., as a result of an allergic reaction.
The former governor of South Dakota was transported to the hospital via ambulance, according to CNN, which reported that she is conscious and has spoken with her security detail.
According to sources of The Dakota Scout familiar with the situation, Noem lost her balance as the result of an allergic reaction to a medication and struck her head on a piece of furniture.
She was taken to the hospital out of an abundance of caution and is expected to be released soon.
DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Noem’s time at DHS, which started in January, has not been without controversy. She has been one of the faces of Donald Trump’s effort to expel illegal immigrants — particularly those that have committed crimes. She traveled to El Salvador this spring, posing for a photo-op in front of inmates who were deported from the United States and held in a prison.
Democrats have rallied to oppose Trump’s immigration policies, staging protests that in some cases have broken into violence. Democratic leaders have been arrested trying to enter Immigration and Customs Enforcement centers.
And last week, Noem was criticized by Democrats after Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California was shoved to the ground after he approached Noem while interrupting a new conference. Video of the incident showed Noem addressing reporters when Padilla started making his way to where she was speaking. Noem did not appear to recognize Padilla.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, including Padilla, requested that Noem address that incident and others in a Senate hearing, as well as why ICE agents wear masks when conducing operations.
That's unfortunate. If it was a reaction to something like Botox, it would be a service to the public to disclose it to warn others of the hazards.
So I wonder if she bothered to respond to the request to attend a Senate hearing & to answer why the ICE folks always wear masks?! When she was governor here in SD, she ridiculed people for wearing masks.