Over the weekend, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem hit a slight bump in the road to confirmation.
Kristi Noem was sworn in as the Secretary of Homeland Security Saturday by Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas after she was so late to the ceremony Vice President JD Vance left, according to a report from POLITICO.
The agency said in a statement, “[Saturday], Kristi Noem was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a vote of 59-34 and sworn in as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. ”
The department shared several photos of Noem with Thomas as well as a statement from the new secretary.
Noem said:
It is such an honor to be sworn in as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. It was made even more meaningful by being sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home. Thank you, President Trump for putting your trust in me to help keep America safe.
While the DHS website made no mention of any delays or drama, Politico reported Thomas was tapped to swear the former South Dakota governor in at his own home in because Vance bailed out after waiting for her for 25 minutes. Per the report, Noem was late because she was not in possession of a personal family Bible she wished to place her hand on:
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that Noem’s late arrival resulted from a delay in the arrival of her late father’s Bible; Noem was originally expected to win confirmation from the Senate today, not yesterday.
McLaughlin said:
Secretary Noem has used this sentimental bible to be sworn into every office she has ever held. Secretary Noem was honored to be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home with her dad’s bible. We are grateful to the Vice President and his office and are encouraged that POLITICO is finally paying such close attention to a Secretary of Homeland Security. We wish they would have for the last four years.
