South Dakota Gov. Noem Says She Hasn’t Been Vetted As Trump V.P. Pick

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) revealed on Sunday that she had not been vetted as one of former President Donald Trump’s potential vice president options.

Noem, a loyal Trump supporter, was asked on NBC’s Meet the Press if she had received paperwork from the former president, and Noem said she had not.

“I haven’t received any paperwork,” Noem said. “I’ve had conversations with the president, and I know that he is the only one who will be making the decisions on who will be his vice president.”

The selection process for Trump’s vice president has seemingly intensified over the past few weeks, with numerous candidates receiving the vetting materials. Trump announced Saturday that he made up his mind about a vice president, but declined to announce his running mate.

Noem has been involved in multiple controversies, and it is currently unclear if this will hurt her chances at the vice presidency.

In her memoir No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wong With Politics and How We Move America Forward, she revealed that she had shot her family’s hunting dog Cricket. The 14-month-old dog was aggressive, having attacked their neighbor’s chickens and attempting to bite Noem, according to her memoir and later statements. She also argued that she was protecting her children.

“So we’ve covered that — and any mom in those situations when you have an animal that’s viciously killing livestock and attacking people, it’s a tough decision,” Noem said. “The reason it’s in my book is because that book is filled with challenging times and hard decisions. And it’s a story, but I think many Americans will be able to read and to learn how they can get engaged with their government again.”

Noem was also criticized after she made comments earlier this year arguing that the Native American tribal leaders in her state benefited from drug cartels. Noem is now banned from tribal lands in South Dakota.

Article by Hannah Molayal