Get to know ‘hot Maga grandma’ Kristi Noem’s controversial family: Donald Trump’s new secretary of homeland security has 3 children – Kassidy, Kennedy and Booker – who share her conservative values

Feb 11 , 2025

Booker Noem, Kennedy Frick, Bryon Noem, Kristi Noem, Kassidy Noem and Kyle Peters. Photo: @kennedy.frick/Instagram

Kristi Noem has come down hard on immigrants since taking charge of US border security under Donald Trump – but what do we know about her own family, who have also been controversial in the past?

America’s new Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has received a lot of attention since she took the high level job on January 25.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Photo: TNS

The 53-year-old mother of three and grandma of four has enforced sweeping immigration and customs raids across the US, standing by her pledge to crack down on illegal immigrants in the country. “The Trump Administration will once again empower our brave men and women in law enforcement to do their jobs and remove criminal aliens and illegal gangs from our country,” she said after her confirmation.

The Noem women (from left): Kassidy Noem, Kristi Noem and Kennedy Frick. Photo: @kennedy.frick/Instagram

Noem is married to Bryon Noem, who runs an insurance agency. The first female governor of South Dakota and a firm Maga supporter, Kristi Noem has made headlines with her support of Trump’s immigration policies. While her family has faced the brunt of her “fame” in the past, they are a close-knit group.

Here’s what you need to know about Noem’s children.

Kassidy under the spotlight

Kassidy Noem (left) and her mum Kristi Noem. Photo: @kassidynoem/Instagram

Born in 1994, Noem’s firstborn, Kassidy, found herself in the limelight when her mum got involved in her daughter’s career, leading to an official investigation.

According to Newsweek, Noem was accused of using her position as South Dakota governor to intimidate and intervene when Kassidy’s application for a real estate appraiser’s licence was denied in 2020.

Sherry Bren, the director of the South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program, testified that Noem called her to a meeting to discuss her decision and was later “forced to retire”.

Kassidy Noem (left), her husband Kyle Peters and their third child. Photo: @kassidynoem/Instagram

Noem denied any interference, saying at the time: “There’s been a continual narrative that I did something to help her get licensed, which is absolutely false,” per Newsweek.