South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s aspirations of becoming Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate have taken a significant hit after reports emerged of her shooting her ‘untrainable’ dog, Cricket. According to an online prediction market, Polymarket, her chances of securing the vice presidency have plummeted from 10% to a mere 3%.
Noem was previously considered a top contender for the role, along with Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Representative Elise Stefanik of New York. However, revelations from her memoir, published in excerpts by a British newspaper, have cast a negative light on her candidacy. In the book, Noem details how she shot Cricket due to her aggressive behavior and perceived untrainability.
The incident has drawn widespread criticism, with former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin calling it ‘horrifying’ and Sarah Matthews, another former Trump aide, labeling Noem’s actions as ‘sick and twisted.’
Noem’s office has yet to comment on the matter. In February, Trump had indicated Noem and Scott as his preferred choices for the vice presidency. However, Noem has denied having any discussions with Trump about the possibility of being his running mate.
The decline in Noem’s chances coincides with her admission of shooting her dog. Her current standing in the prediction market places her behind Scott, who holds a 22% chance of becoming Trump’s vice president, and Stefanik, with a 9% chance. Other potential contenders, such as Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and former GOP primary rival Nikki Haley, are also in the running, with a 6% chance each.
It remains to be seen how the dog shooting incident will ultimately impact Noem’s political future and her chances of securing the Republican vice presidential nomination.
