Kristi Noem, a contender to become Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate, has sparked controversy after saying she killed a family dog and a goat.
Noem, who is also governor of South Dakota, said in her upcoming memoir that she killed an “untrainable” dog named Cricket on her family farm.
She said the 14-month-old dog behaved like a “trained assassin” and was “dangerous to anyone she came into contact with.”
In her memoir, excerpts of which were first published by The Guardian on Friday, Noem also said she “hated” the dog, which ruined a hunt and attacked chickens owned by a local family.
“I realized I had to put her to sleep,” she wrote, adding that she grabbed her gun and then led Cricket to a gravel pit.
Noem also said her family owned a male goat who was “filthy and mean” because he was not castrated.
The goat smelled “disgusting, musky, rancid” and “liked to chase” Noem's children, knocking them down and ruining their clothes.
She wrote that she decided to kill the goat the same way she had just killed her dog.
In response to the clips, Joe Biden's Democratic Party called them “horrific” and “disturbing” and tried to make a 2024 election argument about shooting the animals.
“If you want elected officials who don't brag about brutally murdering their pets as part of their self-promotional book tour, listen to our owners — and vote Democratic,” the Democratic National Committee said in a statement, giving voice to the dogs.
PETA Slams Kristi Noem
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) denounced Kristi Noem's decision to kill the dog, saying she does not understand the crucial political concepts of education.
Colleen O'Brien, senior director at PETA, said: “Most Americans love their dogs, and we suspect they will regard Governor Noem as a psychotic lunatic for unleashing this rambunctious puppy on chickens and then punishing her by decide to give him a blowjob personally.” picks her brains out instead of trying to educate her or find a more responsible guardian who could give her a good home.
“Noem clearly fails to understand the essential political concepts of education, cooperation, compromise and compassion,” she said in an official statement.
Kristi Noem defends herself
However, Kristi Noem defended herself against the attacks because of her story about shooting her dog.
Speaking on her official
We love animals, but on a farm these kinds of difficult decisions happen all the time. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago we had to put down 3 horses that had been in our family for 25 years.
If you want more of the real, honest and politically INcorrect stories the media craves,… pic.twitter.com/bKhpUkchHV
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) April 26, 2024
Her book No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward will be published in the US on May 7.
According to reports, she is on a list of candidates considered by Donald Trump as his vice presidential running mate.
Trump faces a November 5 general election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.