South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem appeared on Face the Nation Sunday, where she touted former President Donald Trump’s “endorsement” of her controversial new book that’s expected to be released this week.
Trump wrote a blurb for the book that read, “Governor Kristi Noem is a tremendous leader, one of the best. This book, it’s a winner. It exposes the problems we’re having and lays out a fantastic plan to Make America Great Again. You’ve got to read it!”
His endorsement came before the controversy broke about Noem shooting her “less than worthless” dog, Cricket, for rambunctious behavior.
Since then, Trump was said to be “disgusted” by the revelation, asking, “What is wrong with her?” according to a new report in Rolling Stone.
According to the magazine:
In recent days, the former president has discussed or brought up Noem’s pup-execution in closed-door meetings, as well as over the phone. Trump, sources recount, has pointedly asked questions regarding her decision to kill the dog, including specifically, “Why would she do that?” and “What is wrong with her?” He has expressed bewilderment that she would have ever admitted to doing this, willingly and in her own writing, and has argued it demonstrates she has a poor grasp of “public relations.” In these various conversations over the past week, the ex-president has also mentioned that voters generally don’t like politicians who kill dogs, two of the people familiar with the matter added.
Noem and other vice presidential contenders attended Saturday night’s RNC retreat for large GOP donors.
CBS News’ Margaret Brennan asked Noem on Sunday, “The very first blurb in it is a blurb from Donald Trump. Did he mention any of the response to your book at all?”
Noem responded:
Oh, he certainly knows about the book and I appreciate his endorsement of it. This is really a book that talks about how we’re not going back, it’s — we’re not going back before the days of Donald Trump. Donald Trump broke politics, and I think that’s a good thing. We’re not going back to the days of Mitt Romney or the Bushes. That now there’s a new way to do and talk to the American people, and they appreciate it. It’s an honest, genuine conversation. about what these citizens can do to take back their government and have more input. So, this book is really a how-to guide for how to make your voice heard and help our people in this country really be heard and make sure getting genuine elected officials who really want to get them more freedom and liberty.
Later in the interview, Brennan asked about the passage on Cricket, but Noem didn’t back down from her decision to put the dog down.
Watch the clip above via CBS News.
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