Noem’s ‘Official Statement’ on X Not Approved, Sources Say
Kristi Noem is facing questions after a statement posted on her social media accounts appeared to use official US State Department letterhead without permission.
The statement was shared on her official account as special envoy and on her personal X account. It discussed the end of her time as a special envoy to the Shield of the Americas.
However, two people familiar with the matter told CNN that the letterhead was not real and the statement had not been approved by the State Department. They said senior department leaders and the press office had not seen the document before it was posted.
It is not yet clear whether the department will take action against Noem. One source said officials were unhappy that she appeared to present an unofficial statement as an official government document.
The sources said the information written in the statement was correct. Their concern was that the document looked like an official department announcement even though it had not been approved.
One source stressed that only the State Department's press office is authorized to issue official statements.
The statement said Noem's special envoy role had always been planned for six months. It also said she would remain at the department as a senior adviser.
CNN contacted Noem's representative to ask who wrote the statement and whether anyone had approved it. The news network also asked the State Department for a response.
On Saturday, Noem posted a message on her personal X account that appeared to respond to the reports. She said she was grateful to continue supporting President Donald Trump's America First agenda and working to improve security and cooperation across the Western Hemisphere.
She added that important work remained to be done and said she was committed to continuing it.
Noem previously served as US homeland security secretary. After her six-month appointment as special envoy ended last month, she moved into a senior adviser role under Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau.
A State Department official previously said that Noem would continue working on issues related to the Shield of the Americas.
The Shield of the Americas is a group created by the Trump administration to help countries in Central and South America work together against security threats and drug cartels.
Last month, Noem attended a meeting of the group's leaders during the United Nations General Assembly. She spoke with leaders at the gathering, and Trump praised her work with the group.
Trump removed Noem from his Cabinet earlier this year after several controversies during her time leading the Department of Homeland Security.
Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are investigating claims of possible wrongdoing involving government contracts at the Homeland Security Department, according to people familiar with the matter. The investigation includes questions about the role of Corey Lewandowski, who served as Noem's close adviser and unofficial chief of staff.
CNN has also reported that Noem's handling of contracts was one of the main issues behind her removal from the Cabinet.
One major controversy involved a $220 million advertising campaign that prominently featured Noem. She said Trump knew about the campaign.
The latest dispute over the State Department letter has raised further questions about how the statement was prepared, who approved it and whether officials will take any action.