John Kennedy: Trump Threw Kristi Noem Under the Bus
Trump reportedly told Kennedy his recollection differed from Noem’s, then told Reuters he knew nothing about the campaign.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYMediaite is an established digital news outlet with identifiable authors, but its coverage includes a mix of reporting and opinion-oriented presentation. This brief report attributes its key claims to named interviews and a Senate hearing, though it provides limited context.
- Source type — National digital news outlet with an established presence.
- Transparency — It identifies the interviews and hearing behind its account.
- Author attribution — The article names an author.
- Editorial standards — The text offers little evidence about corrections practices or reporting standards.
The report uses direct quotations from the hearing and attributes Kennedy’s and Trump’s accounts to named news interviews. It gives Noem’s response but offers little independent context about the ad campaign or the conflicting accounts.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes Noem’s hearing response as well as Kennedy’s account and Trump’s separate denial. It does not provide broader context or additional perspectives on the campaign spending.
- Counterarguments presented — Noem says Trump knew about the campaign; Trump later says he knew nothing about it.
- Source diversity — The report draws on a hearing and statements to two news organizations, but has a narrow range of perspectives.
- Omitted context — It gives little detail about the ad campaign or the basis for the competing accounts.
The article mainly recounts the exchange using attributed statements and direct quotations. Its headline uses a vivid phrase, but the reporting itself shows no clear left-right political framing.
- Language tone — The body is mostly factual and quotation-driven.
- Framing — The story centers on conflicting accounts without endorsing either as fact.
- Headline — The headline is dramatic but does not establish a clear partisan direction.
Sen. John Kennedy said President Donald Trump told him that Trump’s recollection differed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s account of his approval of a $220 million ad campaign. Trump later told Reuters he knew nothing about the campaign.
At a Senate hearing, Kennedy questioned Noem about spending $220 million on a pro-ICE ad campaign in which she appeared. Noem said Trump knew about the campaign and that it had gone through legal processes. Kennedy later told CBS News that Trump had called him after the hearing and that their recollections differed; Kennedy also said he doubted Russell Vought would have approved the spending.
Trump told Reuters, “I never knew anything about it.” Kennedy also commented on reports that Sen. Markwayne Mullin could replace Noem at Homeland Security, calling Mullin able and capable.
Community verdict
19 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →President who called Kennedy after the hearing and disputed Noem’s account
Homeland Security secretary questioned by Kennedy about the ad campaign
Noem's version of this story ↗Senator who questioned Kristi Noem at a hearing and later recounted Donald Trump’s response
Kennedy's version of this story ↗Office of Management and Budget director whom Kennedy said he doubted would have approved the spending
Senator mentioned as a reported possible replacement for Noem
Part of a bigger story
50 OUTLETSTrump announced that Kristi Noem would leave as Homeland Security secretary for a special envoy role and named Sen. Markwayne Mullin as his choice to succeed her. Left-leaning outlets connect Noem’s departure to broader controversies surrounding her DHS tenure. Center outlets focus on the succession and scrutiny of her testimony about the ad campaign. Right-leaning outlets also report the leadership change and scrutiny, while some give more attention to enforcement results and the administration’s immigration agenda.
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