U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified at two congressional hearings during the same week: a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, March 3, followed by a House Judiciary Committee hearing the next day. And one part of her testimony that is now drawing especially close scrutiny is her claim that President Donald Trump approved her $220 million border security ad campaign with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). But Trump, according to Reuters and CNN, is denying that claim.
In a Thursday, March 5 post on X, CNN's Aaron Blake notes, "Noem said under penalty of perjury that Trump approved her $220 million ad campaign. Trump now says that's not true. 'I never knew anything about it,' he tells Reuters."
Reuters' Steve Holland reports, "Noem was questioned by both Democrats and Republicans before a Senate panel on Wednesday about the contract and process to select the companies. The ads prominently featured Noem, including in a scene filmed on horseback at Mount Rushmore in the former South Dakota governor's home state."
Noem said on Tuesday that the contract was awarded through 'a competitive process' and that no political appointees were involved. On Wednesday, she said the contract was 'all done correctly, all done legally.'"
Reuters' reporting is generating a lot of discussion on X, formerly Twitter.
CNN's Kristin Holmes tweeted, "President Trump tells Reuters he didn't sign off on border security advertising campaign featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. 'I never knew anything about it,' Trump said in phone interview. Here's what Noem told Sen. Kennedy Tues: 'Did the president know you were gonna do this?' Kennedy asked. 'Yes,' Noem replied. 'He did?' 'Uh huh, yes.'"
Attorney Paul Feinstein posted, "Now she'll say I didn't say he approved it!"
Philadelphia-based attorney Christopher Moyer commented, "In the case of who is lying, this one is tough, but I'm going to go with Trump is lying."
The group Occupy Democrats posted, "Trump furious at Kristi Noem – privately raging over her Senate testimony that implicated him in $220 million taxpayer-funded cosplay slush fund! Donald Trump is privately seething at DHS Secretary Kristi Noem after she testified under oath Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee that he gave advance approval for a massive $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign, subcontracted to one of her cronies and featuring her lavish self-promotion stunts like horseback riding at Mount Rushmore during a government shutdown. ... This is the sound of a crumbling wannabe dictatorship: Allies turning liability, private rages leaking out, and desperate scrambling to plug leaks while everything burns."
Fox News' Bill Melugin tweeted, "DHS Secretary Kristi Noem now treading in some dangerous waters. She testified in the Senate this week that President Trump approved of [and] was aware of a $200 million ad campaign that featured her prominently. Trump now tells @Reuters in a phone call he didn’t sign off on it: 'I never knew anything about it,' Trump said."