Trump Reportedly ‘Disgusted’ by Kristi Noem Shooting Her Dog: ‘What Is Wrong with Her?’
AP Photo/Jeff Dean
Former President Donald Trump was reportedly put off by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s (R) story about shooting her 14-month-old dog for repeatedly misbehaving.
Noem has been rumored to be on Trump’s shortlist to be his vice presidential running mate, but she received a tsunami of negative press last month. In her new book, the governor told the story of Cricket who Noem said was a bad dog that she “hated.” The last straw came when Cricket escaped and killed some chickens.
“At that moment,” Noem said, “I realized I had to put her down.” The Republican said she took Cricket to a gravel pit and shot it. She added that she also killed a goat in the same pit, but needed two shots to do so.
The tale has not gone over well with Trump, according to Rolling Stone, which spoke with “four sources familiar with the matter, and another two people briefed on it.”
One source told Rolling Stone that it is “getting kind of ridiculous” how “disgusted” Trump is by the story:
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.
The publication noted that some of the sources revealed the private conversations because they do not want Noem on the ticket.
“Some of the sources candidly said they were disclosing these private details because they want Noem permanently eliminated from Trump’s 2024 vice presidential shortlist, or because they despise Corey Lewandowski,” it said.
