Mary Trump, the estranged niece of Donald Trump, has shed light on why South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem admitted to euthanizing ‘Cricket’ and an unnamed family goat. Amid trending hashtags like #KristiNoemIsAMonster and #PuppyKiller on X (formerly Twitter), Mary Trump offered insights into Noem’s actions.
According to The Guardian, excerpts from Noem’s upcoming book, “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward,” reveal her account of euthanizing an “untrainable” dog with an “aggressive personality.”
In response, Mary Trump, a vocal critic of the former US president, took to X to assert that Noem’s actions are aimed at appealing to Donald Trump, a potential Republican nominee. Mary criticized Noem, stating, “Kristi Noem is telling everybody that she euthanized a puppy because she wants to be Donald’s VP and she thinks the story will appeal to him. She’s not wrong.”
Noem, a close ally of Trump, has been considered a possible choice for vice president. Trump hinted at her potential candidacy in a February Fox News interview, mentioning her among six other contenders.
Mary Trump also shared her love for animals on X, recounting the loss of her six-year-old cat and emphasizing her willingness to do anything to bring him back. She contrasted her sentiment with Noem’s actions, stating, “My cat died when he was six. I’ll never get over it and I’d do anything to get him back. Kristi Noem euthanized her puppy because she couldn’t be bothered. This is who they are.”
The revelation sparked strong reactions from netizens. Some called for Noem to be held accountable for animal cruelty, while others expressed sympathy for Mary Trump’s loss and shared their own experiences with lost pets.
Republicans also condemned Noem for the excerpt. Alyssa Farah Griffin, former director of strategic communications in the Trump White House, expressed horror at the incident, emphasizing the importance of proper training for dogs. Sarah Matthews, former White House press secretary, described the incident as sickening and twisted.
Noem defended herself on X, citing the realities of farm life and the tough decisions that come with it. She mentioned having to euthanize three horses recently, highlighting the difficult choices faced by farmers.
