South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem defended her controversial decision to euthanize her dog Cricket, citing concerns for the safety of her children and others. The decision, detailed in excerpts from her upcoming memoir “No Going Back,” drew criticism from various quarters.
In an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Noem explained that including the story in her memoir was a way to illustrate the difficult decisions she has faced in life. She emphasized that Cricket was deemed a dangerous animal due to its aggression towards livestock and people, posing a risk to her family and others on their property.
Acknowledging the backlash, Noem addressed the false anecdote in her book regarding a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during her tenure in Congress. She confirmed that her team would be correcting the error in subsequent editions of the memoir. When pressed about the accuracy of her claim to have met with Kim Jong Un, Noem declined to provide details, stating that she has engaged with numerous world leaders throughout her career but chose not to discuss specific meetings.
Overall, Noem’s interview touched on both personal and political challenges, reflecting on her experiences and the difficult decisions she has made as a public figure.
