Kristi Noem’s ‘Trust’ Claim Ends In Head-Spinning Self-Own
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem endured an awkward moment on Sunday with a derogatory comment about the government, of which she is now a high-profile member.
Noem told CNN’s Dana Bash she was “absolutely” comfortable with the non-official Department of Government Efficiency — led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been taken by President Donald Trump to slash public spending — having access to the sensitive data of tens of thousands of disaster victims.
Bash recalled “when Republicans were very careful about, and worried about, the government, particularly unelected people, having access to personal data.”
“Well, we can’t trust the government anymore,” said Noem.
Bash had to remind Noem: “You are the government.”
Noem then attempted some mental gymnastics.
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying,” she told Bash. “Is that the American people now are saying that we have had our personal information shared and out there in the public.” Musk “is part of the administration that is helping us identify where we can find savings and what we can do and he has gone through the processes to make sure that he has the authority,” she continued.
“You’re totally comfortable with that?” Bash sought to clarify.
“I am today by the work that he is doing by identifying waste, fraud and abuse,” Noem replied. “And his information that he has is looking at programs, not focusing on personal data and information.”
“Not focusing on it, but he has access to it,” Bash noted.
Watch from the 8-minute mark here:
