South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has ignited a whirlwind of controversy with revelations from her new book that detail the killing of a hunting dog and an un-castrated goat. The Republican vice-presidential contender’s admission in “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward” has not only sparked a political storm but also significantly affected her polling numbers.
Kristi Noem faces heavy criticism after talking about killing dog and goat in new book
According to the Democratic firm New River Strategies, their “Noem Puppy Murder Poll Findings” show a staggering 81% of Americans disapprove of Noem’s decision to end the life of Cricket, a 14-month-old Wirehaired Pointer. The dog, according to Noem, compromised a pheasant hunt and killed a neighbor’s chickens, leading to his death in a gravel pit. The goat’s death followed, considered by Noem as necessary due to the animal’s undesirable “odor and behavior” on her farm. Noem detailed how it took two shotgun blasts to kill the goat, with a pause in between to retrieve more ammunition — as per The Guardian.
Noem’s justifications have done little to quell the backlash, with public figures expressing horror and disbelief at her actions, especially within the context of her political aspirations alongside Donald Trump. Meghan McCain, a conservative pundit, wrote, “All I will distinctly think about Kristi Noem now is that she murdered a puppy who was ‘acting up’ – which is obviously cruel and insane. Good luck with that VP pick[,] lady.”
Despite the criticism, Noem’s communications director, Ian Fury, defended her, citing tough decisions on a farm as commonplace and referencing Noem’s positive favorability in key battleground states. The support of Donald Trump, who praised Noem as “a tremendous leader,” also appears unwavering, even in light of the current controversy.
Yet, both public and political backlash are evident through Noem’s dropping favorability among Americans, especially dog lovers, and a slip in her positioning as a potential vice-presidential candidate for Trump. Betting firm PredictIt’s rankings now place Noem behind other contenders, marking a significant impact from the revelations of her actions.
