Kristi Noem, the former Homeland Security Secretary and ex-South Dakota governor, is ending her marriage to Bryon Noem after 34 years together, according to her mother Corinne Arnold. The couple, who met in high school and married in 1992, are proceeding with divorce following revelations about Bryon’s private activities that became public in March.
Arnold, who is 77 and lives next door to the ranch where the Noems raised their three adult children, confirmed the split to the Daily Mail. She described learning about the divorce at a family birthday party in late spring, just weeks after news broke about Bryon’s involvement in an online fetish community.
“It has been difficult, but we knew this was coming, that they were going to get divorced,” Arnold told the outlet. She recounted pressing her daughter about the status of the marriage at the gathering. “Finally, I said: ‘What’s the deal? Are you going to get together again?’ And she said: ‘No. No. We’re going to get a divorce.'”
Details of the Scandal
In March, reports surfaced that Bryon Noem had been actively participating in online communities centered on a “bimbofication” fetish, which involves performers augmenting their appearance, particularly through breast augmentation with saline, to achieve an exaggerated aesthetic. According to the reporting, Bryon had not only engaged with this community online but had participated in the trend himself.
Following the public disclosure, Bryon moved out of the family’s home in Castlewood, South Dakota. He now lives approximately 20 miles away and continues to operate his insurance agency, according to the Daily Mail report.
The couple raised three children together: daughters Kassidy, now 32, and Kennedy, 29, and a son, Booker, who is 24.
Affair Allegations Denied
Arnold also addressed separate allegations that had circulated about her daughter. She firmly denied claims that Kristi had conducted an affair with Corey Lewandowski, who previously served as campaign manager for President Donald Trump.
“Kristi would never do that,” Arnold said. “That’s not how I brought my kids up. And Corey’s got his own wonderful family and little kids.” She added that she had met Lewandowski personally and found him “nothing but decent.”
Political Fallout
The marital troubles emerged during a tumultuous period for Noem professionally. President Trump removed her from her position as Homeland Security Secretary on March 5, shortly before the details about her husband’s activities became public knowledge, as previously reported by the National Enquirer.
Noem, who is 54, had served as South Dakota’s governor before joining the Trump administration in the cabinet-level position overseeing the Department of Homeland Security. Her tenure in both roles had positioned her as a prominent figure within Republican politics.
Arnold last saw her daughter and son-in-law together at the late spring birthday celebration where she learned of the impending divorce. When she asked about legal representation, Kristi indicated she had retained an attorney from Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s largest city.
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