By Katherine Tinsley
12:59am PDT, May 16, 2025
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Critics have dubbed
Kristi Noem "ICE Barbie" due to the Secretary of Homeland Security's penchant for sharing pictures of herself with her hair and makeup done while participating in deportations.
Democrat Rep.
Bennie Thompson called out Noem's reputation while slamming her during a congressional hearing on Wednesday, May 14.
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Kristi Noem appeared before the House Homeland Security Committee to discuss her agency's 2026 budget. The department has been accused of not adhering to its congressional budget.
"Whatever got you here, Secretary Noem, I'm glad you found time among your many photo ops and costume changes to testify about why President [Donald] Trump is seeking more taxpayer dollars, and what [you] plan to do with that money if you get it," Bennie Thompson told her, reading aloud from a sheet of paper.
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X users had mixed reactions to seeing Bennie Thompson point out Kristi Noem's use of makeup and professional photographers to capture deportations, prison tours and more.
"This is so good…calling out Kosplay Kristie," one X user wrote.
"This is exactly how to treat Republicans," a second X user chimed in. "Every single day. Every chance you get. Humiliate the s*** out of them."
"He speaks the truth, all she does is play dress up and doesn't answer any questions straight up always deflects from them," another said.
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While critics were excited to see Kristi Noem be called out for her behavior, fans took issue with Bennie Thompson's tone.
"Why is he condescending to her? Our border is the most secure it has been in history," one X user wrote. "She leads the agency responsible for that."
"It might have been amusing if he didn't have to read it [from a paper]," another X user said.
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A month ago, television personality Megyn Kelly admitted she didn't approve of Kristi Noem's social media activity.
"Just stop trying to glamorize the mission and put yourself in the middle of it as you cosplay ICE agent, which you're not," Kelly said on an episode of her "The Megyn Kelly Show" podcast.
"I can't stand these photo ops, you guys. I think they diminish ICE, they diminish DHS, CPB," the Fox News alum added. "She's not an agent! She is an administrative policy person appointed by Trump because she was very loyal to him."
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Megyn Kelly stressed how Kristie Noem's presence isn't necessarily helping ICE agents.
"Stop with the glam. I mean, she looks like I look right now, but she's out in the field with her gun, being like, 'We're gonna go kick some a**,'" Kelly said. "No one wants you there."
