Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Mocked For Wearing Cowboy Hat While Defending Trump’s Tariff Plan

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was mocked on social media for wearing a cowboy hat as she appeared on TV to support President Donald Trump‘s tariff plan for Mexico, Canada and China.

“Today, I have implemented a 25% Tariff on Imports from Mexico and Canada (10% on Canadian Energy), and a 10% additional Tariff on China,” Trump stated on Truth Social on Feb. 1. “This was done through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (EEPA) because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl.” 

“We need to protect Americans, and it is my duty as President to ensure the safety of all,” he added. “I made a promise on my Campaign to stop the flood of illegal aliens and drugs from pouring across our Borders, and Americans overwhelmingly voted in favor of it.”

On Sunday, Noem, who is banned from all nine tribal lands in her home state of South Dakota, wore a large, white cowboy hat and doubled down on these comments during an interview with Meet the Press host Kristen Welker. The interview took place on the southern border.

“These countries have an opportunity to get onboard with the President of the United States and to partner with us to deal with illegal immigration, to take back their individuals who have been in our country illegally and we want to repatriate them home and they can be partners,” Noem said.

“So, economically, yes, they will feel pain,” she declared. “They will feel what the consequences are, and we’ll be able to continue to go forward with the president who is strong, who is putting America First.”

After the interview with Welker, users on the social media platform X were quick to ridicule Noem’s cowboy hat.

“Watching Meet The Press, well howdy pardner with the silly ten-gallon cowboy hat,” one user wrote. “Does Kristi Noem think she’s in the beauty pageant old west talent competition?”

“How ridiculous is Kristi Noem with a cowboy hat,” another user said. “What is she in a Halloween party? She is not a serious person. This administration is a clown show. This is so embarrassing.”

Yet another asked, “Can someone please tell Kristi Noem to take off that oversized cowboy hat? “It doesn’t suit her and doesn’t make her any better at her job. Thanks in advance.”

Noem is no stranger to controversies. During an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash in June 2024, Noem admitted that she had killed her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, because she wanted to keep her kids safe from “a vicious animal that was attacking livestock and killing livestock and attacking people.”