Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing significant backlash following remarks made Monday on Fox & Friends, where she expressed disbelief over the deadly flooding that claimed more than 90 lives in central Texas over the weekend.
Appearing on the morning news show, Noem stated she “can’t wrap my head around” how the floods turned so deadly despite flash flood alerts being issued “several hours” in advance. Her remarks immediately drew widespread criticism on social media, where users accused her of being tone-deaf and dismissive of the human tragedy.
The comments came just one day after the devastating natural disaster swept through several Texas counties, leaving dozens dead and many others missing. Critics were quick to point out what they viewed as hypocrisy in Noem’s remarks, suggesting that advanced warnings mean little without adequate emergency response or preparation.
“Spare us the shocked routine. The alerts weren’t enough, the response was too slow, and leadership failed—again. People are dead, kids are missing, and she’s up there acting like it was all just a surprise. No, Kristi. It was negligence. Own it,” wrote Charles Perreria in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Adding fuel to the controversy, Deputy Communications Director of the Democratic National Committee, Hannah Muldavin, called out Noem for posting on Instagram during the height of the crisis. “You can’t make this up. While Texas faces the impacts of deadly flooding, the DHS Secretary. Kristi Noem spent last night posting portraits of herself on Instagram and asking followers to weigh in on which one was the best,” Muldavin posted.
Muldavin was referring to an Instagram story posted by Noem in which she asked her followers to choose between two portraits of her in her role as South Dakota governor. The post struck many as poorly timed and disconnected from the scale of the disaster unfolding in Texas.
Critics continued to voice their frustration online. One user wrote, “Cosplaying Queen can’t really wrap her head around it. How unshocking is that?” Another added sarcastically, “Rest easy knowing our Secretary of Homeland Security is unable to grasp how a several-hour advance warning of a deadly flood could have prevented tragedy.”
As of Tuesday morning, Noem had not responded publicly to the growing backlash. Meanwhile, rescue and recovery efforts continue in Texas, where families are mourning lost loved ones and searching for the missing.