Trump Running Mate Candidate Female Politician Reveals in Memoir
Biden Camp Differentiates with 'Dog Lover' Photos and More
A prominent female Republican politician, considered a running mate (vice-presidential candidate) for former U.S. President Donald Trump, has sparked controversy by confessing in her memoir that she killed a dog.
On the 26th (local time), the British daily The Guardian obtained and reported an excerpt from the memoir to be published next month by Kristi Noem (52), Governor of South Dakota, who is regarded as one of the candidates for Trump’s running mate. In the book titled No Going Back, Governor Noem reveals her life experiences and policies, but a section introducing a dog she raised has become problematic.
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, USA (left), and former President Donald Trump [Photo by Reuters]
She confessed that a 14-month-old female dog named "Cricket," which she hoped would become a well-trained hunting dog, showed excessive aggression and was eventually shot and killed on a gravel field. Cricket, in an excited state, not only ruined hunts by chasing birds but also harmed local residents’ chickens by biting them, and even tried to bite Governor Noem herself. Noem wrote that Cricket "acted like a trained assassin," adding, "I hated that dog. She was dangerous to everyone I came into contact with and worthless as a hunting dog." She continued, "In the end, I decided to kill Cricket. It was not a pleasant thing, but it had to be done."
The Guardian interpreted Noem’s revelation of killing the dog in her memoir as an attempt to emphasize her decisiveness. In addition, Noem also disclosed in the memoir that she shot and killed a goat she raised for the same reasons ? because it smelled bad and followed her children around.
After news of Noem killing the dog and goat spread, social media platforms were flooded with criticism calling her "cruel." The controversy then extended into the political arena. The Democratic National Committee of the United States issued a statement describing Governor Noem as "creepy and shocking," strongly condemning her. They added, "If you want elected officials who do not brag about cruelly killing pets, vote for the Democrats."
The election campaign of President Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election in November, also acted swiftly. On X (formerly Twitter), they quickly posted photos of President Biden walking a German Shepherd named "Commander" at the White House in the past, and Vice President Kamala Harris holding a dog. This appears to be an effort to highlight their image as dog lovers, unlike Governor Noem. Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota and a Democrat, also posted on X a photo of feeding a dog, saying, "Let’s post pictures that don’t involve shooting dogs and throwing them on gravel."
Noem’s remarks have drawn criticism not only from Democrats but also from within the Republican Party. Far-right activist Laura Loomer wrote on X, "You (Governor Noem) cannot become vice president after shooting a dog." In response to the controversy, Noem has repeatedly explained, saying, "Killing the dog was an unavoidable choice." She wrote on X, "We love animals, but such difficult decisions always happen on farms," adding, "Sadly, a few weeks ago, we euthanized three horses that had been with our family for 25 years."
Governor Noem served as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives and has been the first female governor of South Dakota since 2019. She also gained nationwide attention for refusing to issue a statewide mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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