WASHINGTON — The surprising photos of Kristi Noem’s cross-dressing husband sporting comically massive pretend breasts have prompted a brand new parlor sport in Washington — who was behind the story and why did they do it?
One idea amongst Republican strategists who know Noem is that she might have had a hand within the leak to the Day by day Mail as a part of a cynical play to rehabilitate her picture after President Trump fired her as Homeland Safety Secretary.
“I do suppose she might have leaked it,” one insider instructed The Publish. Three others stated they aren’t ruling out the chance.
It’s all a part of a comeback tour that she and her longtime adviser and lover Corey Lewandowski are plotting with one doable purpose: profitable the White Home.
The surprising accusations that Byron Noem cross-dresses and chats on-line with fetish fashions was seen by some strategists as a ploy to assist the duo overcome a collection of controversies after their careers crashed and burned following a disastrous Senate listening to on March 3.
“I can’t assist however suppose that Corey Lewandowski is making an attempt to divert consideration away from one scandal and set the stage for the Secretary to break up and them to dwell fortunately ever after,” a supply conversant in the pair instructed The Publish.
Noem and Lewandowski didn’t reply to The Publish’s request for remark.
Noem’s response to the story about her husband — who lives in South Dakota whereas she and Lewandowski reportedly co-habitate within the Coast Guard commandant’s residence on a Washington, DC, army base — was swift and succinct shortly after the information broke.
“Ms. Noem is devastated. The household was blindsided by this, they usually ask for privateness and prayers on the time,” her spokesperson instructed The Publish.
The Noems have been married for 34 years and have three grown youngsters. Lewandowski has been married to Alison Hardy Lewandowski since 2005, they usually share 4 children.
However many Washington insiders are doubtful that Noem — who was briefly within the dialog to be President Trump’s 2024 running-mate — has sufficient goodwill left with the general public.
“I’m unsure that the ‘My husband is a cross dresser with a freaky fetish’ card is sufficient to garner the wanted empathy,” the supply stated.
“Though I’d be mendacity if I didn’t say this is able to be an ideal story for the subsequent ‘Love Story’ collection.”
Noem and Lewandowski have lengthy eyed the Oval Workplace, a number of Republican sources instructed The Publish.
The salacious allegations about her husband Bryon’s double life might assist that ambition by recasting Noem because the sympathetic, wronged spouse, in the identical mode of Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin, in keeping with buddies.
Each of Clinton and Abedin survived embarrassing revelations about their husbands’ love lives and went on to thrive.
(Notably, Noem has been battling reviews she was stepping out on her husband since 2021.)
The previous South Dakota governor’s aspiration for the best workplace within the land goes again years and has an unlikely start line: Kanye West.
The rapper referred to as Noem personally to ask her to be his 2020 running-mate for his unbiased run.
And Lewandowski pushed her to say sure, sources stated.
Whereas she in the end turned him down, Noem would spend the subsequent six years working to burnish her nationwide profile and forming ties to Trump’s highly effective MAGA base — making an attempt to put the inspiration for a presidential bid of her personal.
Others warn the ploy might backfire. Hillary Clinton, as an illustration, efficiently pivoted into the Senate, however the baggage she carried made her so unpopular that she misplaced the presidential election in 2016 — to Trump.
“The hen has formally flown the coop on Kristi Noem ever with the ability to rehabilitate her repute after this,” one insider who is aware of her stated.
The individual went on to say Noem’s “unique sin” was the affair with Lewandowski, who’s despised by many within the GOP institution.
His saving grace has been his robust relationship with Trump.
“It’s not that she cheated on her husband and in such a public trend, however she did it with somebody who’s universally reviled,” the supply stated.
In the meantime, Lewandowski is standing by her aspect.
Right here’s the most recent on Kristi Noem’s husband’s weird ‘bimbofication’ fetish scandal
He’s taking part in the behind-the-scenes puppet grasp in negotiating the general public relations nightmare for the politically bold Noem, sources inform The Publish.
Publicly he was final seen along with her final week when Noem ended her tenure at DHS on a defiant observe, touring to South America on a luxurious authorities jet.
On that journey, she put away her “ICE Barbie” picture of vests, weapons, and heavy make-up, swapping it out for skilled fits as she traveled to Dominican Republic, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guyana and Ecuador, the place she was awarded the order of advantage.
It was a well-recognized supporting position for Lewandowski, who occupied an unpaid however highly effective position within the Division of Homeland Safety when she served as secretary.
He misplaced the gig when Trump fired her, however that hasn’t pushed the 2 aside, insiders say.
“He’s a survivor,” a prime Republican strategist who is aware of them each properly instructed The Publish.
