South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has recently been absent from the television screens, with no new interviews being advertised.
This comes in the wake of her abruptly cancelled book tour, a move that has left many surprised given the speed at which her promotional efforts seemed to implode.
Noem had chosen CBS's Face the Nation as the platform for her first interview to promote her memoir, No Going Back. The decision was met with raised eyebrows, as the show's host, Margaret Brennan, is known for her partisan stance and often displays a dismissive attitude towards Republican guests.
By the time Noem appeared on the show, the story of Cricket the Dog had already made headlines, causing a stir among the public. Another story that would prove problematic for Noem was her alleged meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Brennan attempted to delve into this story, but Noem remained tight-lipped, offering only that she has met with many world leaders.
Noem also mentioned that some edits were being made to her book. The Kim Jong-un story took a strange turn when it was revealed that Noem had narrated the audio version of her memoir. The question arose: how could she have read that part of the book and not removed it? The supposed meeting was said to have occurred during her tenure in Congress. If such a meeting had taken place, it would have been reported by the media. However, no such report exists.
Noem's troubles did not end there. Another story from her book has been called into question. She claims to have cancelled a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who she implies is among the many world leaders she has met. Macron's government, however, denies this story, stating that there is no record of a scheduled meeting at the Elysee Palace and that no invitation was extended to Noem.
Noem wrote in her book, "While in Paris, I was slated to meet with French president Emmanuel Macron. However, the day before we were to meet he made what I considered a very pro-Hamas and anti-Israel comment to the press. So, I decided to cancel." This alleged meeting was supposed to have taken place in November, not during her time in Congress.
Ian Fury, Noem's chief of communications, attempted to clarify the situation, stating that the Governor was invited to sit in President Macrons box for the Armistice Day Parade at Arc de Triomphe. He added that after Macron made anti-Israel comments, Noem decided to cancel her attendance. Fury also noted that Macron did not end up attending either.
Noem was in Paris in November 2023 to speak at the Worldwide Freedom Initiative conference. She did not specify in her book what Macrons comments were, but when asked for details, her office pointed to Macron's remarks urging Israel to stop bombing Gaza and calling for a cease-fire.
The authenticity of the stories in her memoir has come under scrutiny. The book was ghostwritten, implying that Noem did not do any of the writing herself. However, she or an assistant would have had to provide the material for her memoir.
Noem has since cancelled television appearances on CNN and Fox News. Her interview with Fox Business Channel's Stuart Varney may have been her last one, as she appeared irritated when Varney questioned her about the stories in her book.
Former President Donald Trump acknowledged Noem's predicament, stating last week, She had a rough couple of days. I will say that.
Noem's recent controversies have led to speculation that she is no longer on Trump's shortlist for running mates. The situation appears to be a self-inflicted mess, leaving many to wonder about the future of her political career.
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