Kristi Noem Faces Criticism for Geography Mistake During Interview

Kristi Noem, the former Homeland Security secretary, encountered criticism during a live interview on Newsmax when she mistakenly referred to El Salvador and Costa Rica as being in South America. During the interview, host Greta Van Susteren asked Noem about U.S. partnerships in South America, to which she responded by listing several countries, including El Salvador and Costa Rica, both of which are located in Central America. Critics, including Democratic strategist Mike Nellis, pointed out the error on social media. This interview marked Noem's first major television appearance since leaving the Trump administration and taking on a new role as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas initiative, which aims to strengthen partnerships with countries aligned with U.S. values. Noem also discussed the focus on regional issues such as illegal immigration and gang violence, particularly in Haiti.