Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem debuted in her newly created role as special envoy for “Shield of the Americas,” as President Trump announced the initiative in Mar-a-Lago Saturday.
Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem debuted in her newly-created role as special envoy for “Shield of the Americas,” as President Trump announced the initiative in Florida Saturday.
Trump fired Noem as DHS chief on Thursday after a series of flubs that included claiming in a House hearing the president approved $220 million in TV ads starring herself — and her stunning non-answer about whether she had “sexual relations” with top aide Corey Lewandowski.
The 54-year-old former governor of South Dakota, who earned the nickname ICE Barbie for her perfectly coiffed hair and makeup during her highly publicized immigration enforcement photo ops, sat in the front row alongside War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Trump gathered a dozen allied Latin American leaders in his golf resort outside Miami to announce the newly formed US-led coalition of conservative Latin American governments aimed at fighting cartels and countering Chinese influence in the hemisphere.
“We have to eradicate them. We have to knock the hell out of them,” he said.
Noem did not speak during the announcement, with Trump handing the microphone to Rubio, and then Hegseth after his remarks. The president indicated the initiative would operate under Rubio’s supervision, meaning Noem would be working under him.
“I want to thank Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his leadership in organizing this really important stuff. He’s fantastic,” Trump commented.
Noem didn’t respond to questions from reporters after the announcement. She spoke to Latin American leaders during a lunchtime address that was closed to questions from the media.
“Our objectives are going to be to try to destroy the cartels,” she said “We’re going to go after these narco-terrorists that are destroying our people.”
Few details were given about her role. A special envoy is typically an ambassador-like position that serves as a liaison between the US and other countries.
“I will when the press leaves give you all my personal cell phone number so that you may reach me at any time that you need something,” Noem told the Latin American leaders at lunch.
The leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago were invited to the event. Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, and Brazil were notably absent, as they weren’t invited.
Though the announcement focused on eliminating drug trafficking, experts say the initiative really is about solidifying American primacy in Latin America and curbing the influence of China in the region.
“The most likely outcome is a more fragmented region,” said Francisco Urdinez, an associate professor at the Political Science Institute of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. “Right-leaning governments will align more closely with Washington, while left-leaning governments will maintain or deepen ties with China.”
Meanwhile, Lewandowski is expected to depart the DHS at the end of the month — but there’s no word yet on his new job or whether he will follow Noem.
