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Governor Noem’s Fiery Gift Raises Eyebrows and Questions
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem received a rather unconventional Christmas gift from her staff in 2022: her very own flamethrower. The present, reportedly costing around $650 and paid for by staff, was even engraved with the state’s motto, “Under God, the people rule.”
The governor’s affinity for the incendiary device became public in 2020 when she posted a photo of herself wielding one, jokingly asking if it was “too late to add this to my Christmas list?” Her staff evidently took the hint, presenting her with the personalized flamethrower. Noem later shared a video of herself enthusiastically incinerating cardboard boxes with the new tool, exclaiming, “Boom, perfect.”
While a spokesperson for the governor confirmed that no tax dollars were used for the purchase, the optics of the gift, particularly with the state motto inscribed on what can be considered a weapon, have sparked a debate. Flamethrowers have legitimate uses in land management, such as clearing brush and prescribed burns, but the imagery of a governor “playing” with such powerful machinery has raised concerns about the message it sends.
The video of Noem testing her flamethrower, shared on social media by White House Reporter Philip Melanchthon Wegmannn, quickly garnered significant attention. While some viewers expressed admiration and a desire for their own flamethrowers, others voiced alarm over the “optics” of the situation. Critics questioned the necessity of a civilian owning such a device and drew parallels to more pressing issues faced by some South Dakota residents.
The incident comes amidst other recent headlines for Governor Noem, including being branded “out of touch” after being seen with cowboys and her controversial offer of $3,000 to migrants for self-deportation. The flamethrower gift adds another layer to the ongoing discussion surrounding the governor’s public image and the messages conveyed through her actions.