Kristi Noem files for divorce from husband after 34 years of marriage

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has filed for divorce from her husband, Bryon Noem, after 34 years of marriage. The couple, who married in May 1992, has three children together. The divorce filing was made in April but was posted online on September 30, 2026. The complaint, filed in Hamlin County, cites "irreconcilable differences" as the grounds for the divorce. Noem's attorney confirmed the filing and stated that further comments will be reserved for the legal process. Lawyers for Bryon Noem did not respond to requests for comment. Earlier this year, questions arose regarding Kristi Noem's relationship with a top adviser, Corey Lewandowski, which she denied, calling the allegations of an extramarital affair "tabloid garbage." Noem's conduct came under scrutiny following the shooting deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis by immigration officers, leading to her being viewed as a liability for former President Donald Trump. Trump subsequently nominated Markwayne Mullin to replace Noem and appointed her as a special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere.