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After The Guardian published excerpts from South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's forthcoming book detailing how she killed her daughter's young dog, the rising Republican politician has doubled down on the decision as a matter of principle.
According to her book, "No Going Back," Noem owned a Wirehaired Pointer puppy named Cricket. The 14-month-old dog, Noem said, had an "aggressive personality" and hadn't been trained to hunt properly.
Noem eventually decided to kill Cricket by bringing her to a gravel pit and shooting her. She also killed a "nasty and mean" goat that same day, according to her book.
After receiving vitriol from both Republicans and Democrats for the killings, Noem defended her actions on X. "I followed the law and was being a responsible parent, dog owner, and neighbor," she wrote.
Who, exactly, is Noem trying to win over by publicly sharing such a gruesome act?
Not South Dakota voters.
Noem, who won reelection in 2022, isn't eligible for another term in the governor's mansion. And while she's become a frequent presence on right-wing television, bragging about killing family pets usually isn't the way one goes about building their brand and personal credibility.
Is it possible this was aimed at former President Donald Trump and his advisors?
Noem has been a part of several of Trump's campaign rallies over the last year and is being floated by pundits as his possible vice presidential running mate.
Trump has spoken negatively about dogs and didn't own one while in the White House — the closest he ever publicly got to one there was when awarding a medal to an injured dog. And he famously likes leaders who he perceives as tough and mean.
But given the universal backlash, it's hard to imagine that Noem's brutal admission in her book would help her win him over for a possible veep spot.
Whatever her reasons, admitting she gruesomely and needlessly killed her dog is not something people will let her live down anytime soon. Just ask Mitt Romney.
