South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s false claim that she met with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un will be removed from future editions of her upcoming memoir, the Associated Press reports.
Noem’s book, No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong With Politics and How We Move America Forward, is slated for publication by Center Street on Tuesday. The press says that the Republican politician’s memoir “is packed with surprising stories and practical lessons from the front lines of the battle. And she names names.”
One of those names is Kim. In the book, Noem writes, “I remember when I met with the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. I’m sure he underestimated me, having no clue about my experience staring down little tyrants (I’d been a children’s pastor after all).”
Ian Fury, a spokesperson for Noem, said Kim’s inclusion in the book was an error.
Noem has been regarded as a rising star in the Republican party and a possible running mate for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. But her future in national politics seems in doubt after it was reported that her memoir contains a passage in which she describes killing her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, calling the wirehair pointer “less than worthless.”
On Face the Nation, Noem addressed the Cricket controversy, defending her actions, and implying that President Joe Biden’s dog Commander, who has bitten several people, should meet a similar fate as Cricket.
Noem declined to say whether she had actually met with Kim, saying, “I’m not going to talk about my specific meetings with world leaders. I’m just not going to do it.” She did say, however, that she “made some changes and looked at this passage.” On X, formerly known as Twitter, Center Street confirmed that the passage would be removed in future print editions of the book, and said, “Further questions about the passage should be referred to the author.”
— Center Street (@centerstreet) May 5, 2024
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
