South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s dreams of ascending to the pinnacle of MAGA politics have hit a snag as she finds herself conspicuously absent from Donald Trump’s latest shortlist for vice president. The revelation comes as a blow to Noem, who has long been touted as a potential running mate for the former president.
Amidst the flurry of speculation surrounding Trump’s VP selection, Politico dropped a bombshell, reporting that Noem failed to secure a spot among the eight contenders vying for the coveted position. Instead, the lone woman on Trump’s list is New York Rep Elise Stefanik, leaving Noem out in the cold alongside a roster of predominantly male candidates.
Noem’s fall from grace was swift and dramatic, exacerbated by a recent scandal involving the untimely demise of her family dog, Cricket. The revelation, buried within the pages of her memoir, “No Going Back,” sparked outrage and condemnation from animal rights advocates and the public alike. Noem’s casual admission of shooting her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer sent shockwaves through the political landscape, tarnishing her carefully crafted image as a staunch defender of conservative values.
In the aftermath of the canine controversy, Noem attempted to quell the furor with dismissive remarks, justifying her actions as routine farm protocol. However, the damage was done, with Amazon even limiting reviews of her book in response to the backlash.
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Despite her efforts to weather the storm, Noem’s political aspirations suffered a fatal blow, culminating in her exclusion from Trump’s VP shortlist. While the exact reasons for her omission remain unclear, speculation abounds regarding the impact of the dog-killing scandal on her standing within MAGA circles.
Reports suggest that Noem’s prospects had been waning long before the canine debacle, with insiders indicating that she had been sidelined by the Trump camp months prior. Even Trump himself acknowledged the turbulence surrounding Noem’s candidacy, conceding that she had endured “a couple of rough stories” but stopping short of offering her unequivocal support.
As Noem grapples with the fallout from her failed bid for vice president, her absence from Trump’s shortlist serves as a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of political ambition. In a movement defined by loyalty and adherence to conservative principles, Noem’s misstep proved to be her undoing, leaving her on the sidelines as others vie for the spotlight she once coveted.
