For Kristi Noem, the price of love may be her work.
Donald Trump is reportedly considering firing his homeland security secretary over the troubled employment of her alleged lover, Corey Lewandowski, The Bulwark reported Sunday.
Three former DHS officials told the outlet that the president’s top advisers are increasingly frustrated with Noem’s troubled—and married—partner, and because of that, he will soon be shown the door.
“Things are fine,” one former official said of the pair. “It’s scary, they’re going to destroy this place. I’m just hoping the new secretary will be here in time.”
There have been rumors that Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem’s relationship has extended beyond the office for years. / Andrew Cabello-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Officials said Trump could act in January, when Democrat Abigail Spanberger will replace Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, whom advisers are now quietly floating as a possible replacement for Noem.
Noem, who is married, and his bumbling chief adviser have repeatedly denied their alleged relationship, calling it DC’s “worst-kept secret.” Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign manager, is also known as Noem’s “gatekeeper,” serving as a special government employee who travels with him, weighs in on personnel matters, and shapes enforcement.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin could be tapped to replace Noem. / Alison Joyce / Alison Joyce / Getty Images
During their tenure, they have faced increasing scrutiny for misappropriation of funds. In November, the pair were reported to have ordered 10 Spirit Airlines jets before realizing the planes had no engines.
DHS officials, who warned Noem the purchase was impractical and would be too cheap to hire additional flight contractors, dug deeper and discovered that Spirit — which has twice filed for bankruptcy — didn’t own the planes in the first place and had to buy the engines separately, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Lewandowski has led efforts to replace ICE leadership nationwide with Border Patrol veterans to implement a more heavy-handed, military-style approach to Trump’s immigration crackdown, including a hostile operation called the “Midway Blitz” in Chicago.
Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem have faced rumors of a possible romantic relationship, but both have denied any inappropriate or romantic involvement. / The Washington Post / Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post via Getty Images
Because Lewandowski is an unpaid special government employee, he is legally allowed to work only 130 days per year. In August, Axios reported that the White House was quietly investigating his day’s total undercount.
If Noem and his troubled partner are fired, it’s unlikely that Trump himself will make the news.
Last week, a Trump administration official alleged that Trump is fixated on “pleasing the public.”[ing] To him, a description was reported in June American CantoA book by Olivia Nuzzi, former Star Washington correspondent for New York magazine.
During his first term, Trump — who tried to trademark the phrase “you’re fired” in 2004 — rarely delivered the news himself to his rotating cast of appointees.
Then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson learned he had been removed from his post while on the toilet, the Daily Beast reported at the time. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, communications director Anthony Scaramucci and White House staff secretary Rob Porter were all shown the door by then-chief of staff John Kelly, who has since resigned.
The Daily Beast has reached out to DHS and the White House for comment.
