It’s not every day that you see a newly-confirmed Cabinet secretary take the oath of office—at the home of a Supreme Court Justice.
But that’s what happened Saturday night as former South Dakota governor Kristi Noem was sworn in as the new Department of Homeland Security secretary at Justice Clarence Thomas’ house.
It is such an honor to be sworn in as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. It was made even more meaningful by being sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home. Thank you, President Trump for putting your trust in me to help keep America safe. pic.twitter.com/5gHiGKW0kp
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 25, 2025
Side note: Thomas has similar pipes to the late, great James Earl Jones. Impressive.
But what the heck were they doing at Thomas’ house? Inquiring minds might want to know. Turns out it was because of an unspecified scheduling conflict. No reason was given for the delay, but the show must go on:
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was sworn in as Department of Homeland Security secretary by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home Saturday, following a scheduling hiccup earlier in the day.
The ceremony, which was originally slated to take place in the Indian Treaty Room inside the Navy Department Wing of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., at 3 p.m., was postponed multiple times.
She had thanked Trump for the opportunity earlier in the day:
Thank you, Mr. President @realDonaldTrump, for the confidence in me to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.
I will work to make America SAFE again!
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) January 25, 2025
Related: Kristi Noem’s Confirmation Hearing Shows Just How Much Change She’ll Bring to DHS – for the Better
South Dakota Gov Kristi Noem Brings Quiet Fire to the California GOP Convention
Noem is just the latest of Trump’s Cabinet officials to have been confirmed; she joins Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, among others, in the nascent administration.
Congratulations to fellow South Dakotan @KristiNoem on being confirmed as secretary of Homeland Security. I know she’s ready to get to work for President Trump and the American people. pic.twitter.com/zH2NqoldEG
— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) January 25, 2025
Noem said it was an honor to take the oath in Thomas’ abode.
“It is such an honor to be sworn in as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security,” she wrote in.. [a social media] post. “It was made even more meaningful by being sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home. Thank you, President [Donald] Trump for putting your trust in me to help keep America safe.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry shared photos of the event on X, just before 6 p.m., expressing confidence in Noem filling the role.
“Sharon and I were honored to be a part of the swearing in ceremony for Homeland Security Secretary, @KristiNoem,” Landry wrote in the post. “America will be safer and stronger because of her and @realDonaldTrump [President Donald Trump]’s leadership. And once again Americans will be put FIRST!”
While Trump’s Cabinet is shaping up mostly as he envisioned—despite the withdrawal of former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for consideration as attorney general and the razor-thin margin of victory for Hegseth—there are still tough battles ahead, mostly for Director of National Intelligence Nominee Tulsi Gabbard and Trump’s pick to take over the FBI, Kash Patel.
“May you live in interesting times,” goes the proverb. I think it’s safe to say we most certainly do.
