Did Kristi Noem meet Kim Jong-un? His book No Going Back caused a new scandal.

It is Completely normal quote of the daya report highlighting a statement taken from the news which simply illustrates as this is extremely normal everything has become.

“I have met many, many world leaders; I have traveled around the world. I shouldn’t have put this anecdote in the book and, at my request, they removed it. —South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaking about an anecdote in her book describe a meeting with Kim Jong-un

Cricket, who? The news that Noem shot her 14-month-old dog in a gravel pit is old. Instead, the book preview scandal that garnered more attention in recent days was Noem’s anecdote about meeting the North Korean dictator.

“I remember meeting North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un,” Noem writes in her book about her time on the House Armed Services Committee. “I’m sure he underestimated me, having no idea of ​​my experience dealing with petty bullies (I had been a children’s pastor, after all). Dealing with foreign leaders requires determination, preparation and determination.

The problem with this anecdote is that the meeting does not appear to have taken place. Kim never had the chance to appreciate him one way or another. Those born yesterday will be shocked to learn that Noem’s collection of timed fluff was written by a ghostwriter, on whom Noem spokesperson Ian Fury initially placed some of the blame.

“It has been brought to our attention that the upcoming book No going back contains two small errors… This was communicated to the writer and the editor. Kim Jong-un was on a list of world leaders and should not have been there,” Fury said.

It shouldn’t have been included because…the meeting didn’t happen? Yes No? Oddly, Noem, throughout a series of interviews, refuses to answer this question. An axle from the bus has already passed over the negro; why not finish the job? She could simply be saying that she and the ghostwriter got lost in some (crosstalk) and that she was actually referring to her meeting with dictator Barack Obama, for example. Instead, she repeats versions of the pablum highlighted at the top.

Here is the relevant vignette from CBS Face the nation Sunday, in conversation with host Margaret Brennan.

Brennan: Have you met Kim Jong-un?

Noème: Well, you know, as soon as it was brought to my attention, I certainly made some changes and looked at this–this passage.

And I met many, many world leaders. I have traveled around the world. As soon as this was brought to my attention, we went ahead and made some changes. So I’m glad that this book will be published in a few days, and that these changes will be in place, and people will have–will have the updated version.

Brennan: So you haven’t met Kim Jong-un? That’s what you say.

Noème: No, I have met with many, many world leaders, many world leaders. I’ve traveled the world, I think I’ve talked a lot in this book about my time in Congress, my time as governor, before I was governor, some of the travel that I’ve done.

I’m not going to talk about my specific meetings with world leaders, I’m just not going to do it. This anecdote should not have been in the book. And as soon as it was brought to my attention, I made sure it was adjusted.

Noème published on social networks afterwards, Brennan had interrupted her too much during their interview. She then continued another CBS morning news show Monday, where this same repetition of “many, many world leaders” happened several times, for good measure.

To avoid answering the question directly, Noem tries to put on an air of it is class Or This is a matter of national security. without really saying it, because that would be absurd. In her interview with Brennan, she confirms that she visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone and that there are “details I’m willing to share.” On the other hand, she said, “there are certain details that I am not willing to share with you.” She therefore transforms the “error” that her spokesperson had conceded into something different. It’s not that she hasn’t met Kim Jong-un at all, but that access to this information, in one way or another, has always been above the pay grade of readers.

It’s silly !

As for other developments on the Kristi Noem Book front…

• Dogs: Kristi Noem also wants Joe Biden’s dog Commander dead. (Slate pulls nervously on his collar.) “What would I do if I were president on my first day in office in 2025?” » Noem reportedly wrote in her book. “Thanks for asking. I happen to have a list. The first thing I would do is make sure Joe Biden’s dog isn’t anywhere on the field (“Commander, say hello to Cricket for Me”). Encouraging Dogs to Join Each Other in Hell: Could This Book Be Good?

• Manny Macron: Noem said she canceled a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron last year after the latter made “very pro-Hamas” comments. Macron’s office says they never had a direct meeting planned, but it’s possible they were supposed to cross paths somewhere. Or maybe the meeting was classified!

• Nikki Haley: Another episode involves a conversation Noem had with Nikki Haley (BOO!) in 2021. Noem claims Haley threatened her during a phone call. Noem remembers Haley telling her twice during that phone call, “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you.” But when I hear bad things, I’ll make sure you know. I don’t understand what Haley was saying here, or why Noem was threatened with it. The main thing to keep in mind is that Haley became a MAGA villain during the production of this book, so it was important to take some sort of dig at her.

The upshot of all this is that Kristi Noem will not be your next vice president – and hasn’t really been a candidate since before this funny book saga, anyway.