Donald Trump chose Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security to reward her lover Corey Lewandowski, a new book claims.
The bombshell was revealed in Jonathan Karl’s upcoming book ‘Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America,’ exposing the inner fighting and petty feuds inside Trump’s cabinet.
Karl dished on how Trump decided Noem should run DHS not because of her competency, but rather as a favor to his longtime unofficial adviser and first Republican campaign manager.
Lewandowski, a controversial figure who casts a daunting shadow over DHS, has been on the outskirts of Trump’s inner circle ever since he was fired from running the 2016 campaign at the behest of Jared and Ivanka Kushner.
Despite the setbacks, the political operative has stuck around the Trump world via his close relationship with Noem. The Daily Mail first reported in September 2023 that Noem and Lewandowski had been having an affair since 2019. The pair, who are both married, denied the report.
Karl reports that Noem was not on the presidential transition team’s list following Trump’s victory in November, but to the surprise of his inner circle, Trump selected her anyway.
The book states ‘When a surprised Trump adviser asked the president-elect why he had decided to nominate Noem to be secretary of Homeland Security, he had a simple answer.’
‘I did it for Corey,’ Trump allegedly said. ‘It’s the only thing Corey asked me for.’
Trump chose Noem to lead DHS as a favor to her rumored lover Corey Lewandowski
Noem was not on the presidential transition team’s list following Trump’s victory in November
Trump and Lewandowski have had a close relationship dating back to the 2016 presidential campaign
Other parts of Trump’s world such as Steve Bannon flamed Noem’s nomination, claiming she was a national security risk.
‘We still got the global war on terror. She runs the whole thing? She runs the f*cking Secret Service? It’s all of it. It’s the global war on terror.’
‘It’s all that. What are you talking about? She’s never been in law enforcement!’ Bannon said to Karl in the book.
The former Trump strategist goes on to blame Lewandowski for pressuring Trump to choose Noem.
‘This motherf**ker asked for somebody who’s obviously unqualified – and it’s dangerous. This is dangerous. What are you doing?’
Lewandowski serves as an adviser to DHS as a special government employee; however, insiders have claimed he actually acts as Noem’s unofficial chief of staff.
The Daily Mail reported in September that DHS Chief Security Officer Richard McComb raised concerns about providing Top-Secret clearance to Lewandowski due to his financial ties to foreign nations, such as China and Israel.
He authored a memo detailing over a dozen concerns with Lewandowski, including the fact he was referenced in an active criminal investigation.
McComb was later pushed out of Homeland Security after nearly a decade of service.
The White House and Lewandowski did not respond to a request for comment.
