Meet Governor Kristi Noem’s husband Bryon: the insurance professional is a doting dad who reportedly says marrying Kristi was his ‘best decision’ – now Trump has picked her to head up Homeland Security
The pair met in high school and share a love of South Dakota’s rural culture; Kristi was passed over as Trump’s running mate this year after reports of an alleged years-long affair with one of his aides
Her presumptive new role oversees critical government functions including US Customs, Border Protection and the US Secret Service. Noem’s position on immigration been made abundantly clear, with Vox reporting that she supports punishing the so-classed “sanctuary cities” that protect undocumented immigrants. She’s also voted to repeal Obamacare, campaigned for lowering taxes and cutting government spending, and opposed expanding Medicaid.
Former assistant Homeland Security secretary Elizabeth Neumann has questioned Noem’s appointment, per Newsweek. “It’s a little concerning for the agency itself that you have somebody coming in who really knows nothing about Homeland Security and hasn’t had that much experience actually.”
As Noem’s political career comes under the spotlight, questions about her personal life are also under the microscope. Noem, who got married to her husband Bryon when she was just 20 years old, often commends him for running the Noem household while she’s busy at work.
He comes from a humble background
Bryon grew up on a farm near Bryant, South Dakota. After graduating from Northern State University with a degree in business and finance, he returned to work on his family farm. On his official webpage, Bryon said growing up in rural South Dakota taught him big life lessons: “It’s where I learned the values of hard work and self-reliance.”
What does he do as South Dakota’s first gentleman?
Bryon became the first gentleman of South Dakota in 2019 when his wife was sworn in as the state’s 33rd governor. On the governor’s official website, Bryon said his focus is on celebrating the “hidden gems” throughout the state, adding that he wanted to ensure that South Dakota’s “rural culture” is not lost. “I want to remind people that these are some of the best places to raise a family or start a business,” he wrote, adding, “I want to show that our way of life here is worth celebrating and promoting.”