The Rumor About Kristi Noem's Love Life That Just Won't Go Away

It's always a smart idea to take political rumors with a grain of salt, but the sheer persistence of one particular story has us wondering: Could there be this much smoke without any fire? Let's start from the top: In September 2021, one of the most enduring rumors about Kristi Noem was started when the pro-GOP blog American Greatness claimed that she and longtime Trump insider Corey Lewandowski were allegedly engaging in an affair. The site even cited unnamed sources, claiming that the affair was an "open secret" at Mar-a-Lago. 

By then, Noem was a well-known Trump supporter, as well as the governor of South Dakota. Lewandowski, on the other hand, was her advisor and one of the most notorious GOP figures who allegedly had a history of sexually inappropriate behavior toward multiple women. For context, Joy Villa, a die-hard Trump fan best known for her politically charged outfits (which landed her on the list of most inappropriate outfits in Grammys history), accused Lewandowski of assault as far back as 2017.

Now, here's where it gets interesting: That same month that the allegations of their affair started, Lewandowski was accused (again) of inappropriate behavior by a Trump donor's wife, Trashelle Odom, and this brought in a lot of backlash. In response, Noem issued a statement saying he'd been removed from her team. However, just a few months later, she and Lewandowski were spotted together at various rallies and other locations. They were very much not acting like people who'd had a public split. The sightings didn't stop there, and by May 2022, just eight months after the scandal, Lewandowski was back on Noem's team. 

To be clear: Both Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem are married to different people. Kristi Noem, who looked almost unrecognizable in her wedding photos, has been with her husband, Bryon Noem, since 1992, and Corey tied the knot with Allison Lewandowski in 2005. Yet, these affair rumors have stuck, largely because Kristi and Corey's behavior doesn't help. Before their alleged affair became such a hot topic, they had a handful of pictures together that gave off work-husband and work-wife vibes — and everyone knows work spouses can be a tricky territory to navigate for the real partners. One such image shows Kristi posing while Corey gives her bunny ears (though they looked more like a rock-and-roll gesture). Sure, the photos could be completely innocent, but more unnamed sources claiming otherwise emerged in the months that followed.

Is there 1 member of Trump's cabinet of moral titans who's allowed within 100 yards of a school playground or who goes to church more often than they break the 7th Commandment? Oh yeah, guess who just disclosed paying $1,631 for Corey Lewandowski's travel? No cheating! pic.twitter.com/7qzGFOV68u

— Ken Silverstein (@KenSilverstein1) December 7, 2024

In 2023, investigative reporters from the Daily Mail publishing an article that included comments from more unnamed sources. One alleged insider said the pair looked "happily in love," and another claimed they even mistook Kristi for Corey's wife based on how closely they interacted. These sources could not be verified and there wasn't any hard evidence, but the rumors never died. 

Then came 2025, when Kristi was officially appointed as the Department of Homeland Security's new secretary by President Donald Trump. Within months, the Daily Mail published photos showing that the two live in the same D.C. neighborhood in apartments opposite each other. One of the photos even shows Corey leaving Kristi's building with a duffel bag. Could it have been a friendly visit, a platonic overnight, or something steamier? That remains unclear.

Ever since Kristi Noem's appointment as President Donald Trump's Homeland Security secretary, she has yet to appoint a chief of staff, which is an important post that every DHS secretary needs filled. According to The Independent, the delay isn't an oversight, and Corey Lewandowski is allegedly filling that role behind the scenes. He reportedly pushed to be officially appointed, but the White House allegedly shut it down due to his history of misconduct. 

Now, you'd think Noem and Lewandowski would avoid anything that fuels the rumor mill. But considering Lewandowski's alleged behavior, Kristi Noem's history of inappropriate cosplay outfits, and the fact that she walked into her first day on the job to "One Hot Mama" by Trace Adkins, it's clear their definition of professionalism doesn't exactly follow the D.C. handbook.

To be fair, no one can confirm the full extent of her relationship with Lewandowski without crossing into speculation since there's no hard evidence. But what is certain is that her continued closeness with a man accused of alleged sexual misconduct by multiple women is, at best, inappropriate. More interestingly, her keeping Lewandowski at her side has us wondering: Why exactly is Noem willing to risk her reputation by maintaining a close relationship with Lewandowski? Your guess is as good as ours.