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Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Faces Scrutiny Over Travel Expenses
Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is facing criticism following the release of her travel expense records. An analysis by the Associated Press revealed that during her six years as governor, from 2018 to 2024, South Dakota taxpayers covered over $640,000 in travel costs for the governor’s office. This figure includes over $150,000 tied to political and personal activities.
Among the expenses detailed are trips to Palm Beach, Florida, coinciding with Donald Trump’s pre-presidency stay at Mar-a-Lago, a $7,555 trip to Paris for a right-wing gathering, a Canadian bear hunt with her niece, and expenses related to a book tour. Some expenses, such as a $2,200 dental visit in Houston documented on Noem’s Instagram account, blurred the lines between official and personal travel.
These expenses came to light following a lawsuit by The Dakota Scout. Several Republican politicians have since accused Noem of using public funds to advance her political career. This criticism comes as the Trump administration, through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, focuses on eliminating government waste, fraud, and abuse.
Former South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard stated that the spending “offends a lot of people,” suggesting that expenses related to Noem’s political ambitions should have been covered by campaign funds.
Noem, currently heading a large federal agency, has also recently faced criticism for perceived insensitivity after sporting a luxury watch during a visit to a Salvadoran prison and filming a video with inmates visible in the background.