Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is pushing back forcefully against criticism over recent remarks about election integrity, arguing that her comments have been taken out of context and insisting that safeguarding American elections is common sense.
Noem sparked controversy Friday during a press conference in Arizona promoting a voter ID requirement. Speaking about election security efforts, she said, “When it gets to election day, we’ve been proactive to make sure we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country.”
The comments drew swift backlash from critics, with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl calling them “extraordinary.” Others in the media questioned whether the secretary was implying federal officials should influence electoral outcomes.
Noem addressed the criticism directly in a post on X Sunday, calling out Karl and CNN’s Jake Tapper by name.
“It must be exhausting to regularly manufacture outrage even over the most commonsense statements,” she wrote, sharing an interview Tapper conducted with border czar Tom Homan.
Noem clarified her position, stating, “Yes, we must build election infrastructure that makes it easy and secure for eligible American citizens to vote—while preventing non-citizens, including illegal aliens, from casting ballots. The choice of who to vote for is obviously up to the voters themselves.”
She then posed a pointed question to her critics: “So here’s the real question for @jaketapper @jonkarl and anyone else clutching pearls over this: Do you actually support allowing people who are in this country illegally to vote in our elections?”
The exchange reflects the broader national debate over voter identification laws and election safeguards, with Republicans arguing such measures protect the integrity of the ballot and Democrats often raising concerns about access.
During Tapper’s interview, Homan did not attempt to directly interpret Noem’s “right leaders” remark when asked whether it fell within DHS’s responsibilities.
“I don’t know, that’d be a question for the secretary,” Homan responded. “If I had to guess, probably, that, you know, only those legally eligible to vote would vote, but I have not talked to the secretary about those statements. That’d be something she’d have to answer.”
Later in the interview, Homan acknowledged that he and Noem do not always see eye to eye on every issue but emphasized unity within the administration.
“But I’m not going to let the media divide this administration. Look, it’s one team, one fight. And, you know, do me and Secretary Noem agree on everything? No, we have discussions and we have difference in opinion. That’s what makes it a strong team. We bring different ideas to the table, then agree on a mission,” Homan said.
Noem’s original remarks came in the context of advocating for voter ID requirements, which she framed as a way to ensure that only eligible American citizens participate in elections.
While critics seized on her phrasing, Noem’s follow-up statements make clear she was emphasizing enforcement of existing eligibility laws rather than suggesting government involvement in selecting candidates.
The episode underscores the ongoing clash between the administration and segments of the media over election security, with Noem accusing critics of “manufacturing outrage” over what she described as a straightforward call to protect the integrity of the vote.
[READ MORE: Minnesota Democrats Claim Victory After ICE Drawdown, but Homan Says Enforcement Continues]
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