Kristi Noem Attends Statue Unveiling Without Husband Bryon After Her Mom Claimed They’re Getting Divorced

Paloma ChavezFri, August 7, 2026 at 10:30 PM UTC

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Bryon Noem (L) and Kristi Noem (R) in May 2025Credit: ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty -

Kristi Noem attended the unveiling of her bronze horse statue without her husband, Bryon, in South Dakota

Kristi’s mother, Corinne Arnold, claimed in a July interview that the former Homeland Security Secretary and Bryon are divorcing

Arnold’s comments were published after allegations surfaced of Bryon participating in online fetish forums and spending thousands on interactions with fetish models

Kristi Noem attended the unveiling of her life-sized bronze statue and official portrait in South Dakota on without her husband, Bryon Noem, nearly a month after her mother said the two were divorcing.

The unveiling was held on Friday, Aug. 7, in Pierre, S.D. Kristi, 54, served as the state’s governor from 2019 until January 2025, when she was sworn in as the first homeland security secretary of President Donald Trump’s second term. She was fired from that position in March, but still serves Trump as the first special envoy to the Shield of the Americas.

The appearance came after Kristi’s mother, Corinne Arnold told the Daily Mail that Kristi and Bryon, 56, were divorcing. However, divorce papers have not been filed.

During the interview, published on July 10, Arnold claimed she learned of their plans during one of her grandchildren’s birthday parties.

“This was a big party where the whole family was there, Kristi and Bryon, all my kids, all my grandkids,” Arnold, 77, told the outlet. “Bryon was holding and hugging the kids. It seemed like the old Bryon.”

“He was very nice,” she added. “I hugged him, told him I loved him and he said the same.”

During the gathering, Arnold also raised the subject of Kristi’s future with Bryon.

“Finally, I said: ‘What’s the deal? Are you going to get together again?’ And she said ‘No. No. We’re going to get a divorce.’ ” Arnold told the Daily Mail.

“And I said ‘Who is your lawyer?’ And she said it was somebody from Sioux Falls,” Arnold said, adding,  “I feel bad, sick that they’re getting a divorce, but what else can you do?”

On March 31, the Daily Mail published a report that Bryon had participated in online fetish forums.

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The investigation included photos that allegedly showed Bryon wearing women’s clothing and fake breasts, along with claims that he spent more than $25,000 communicating with online fetish models in the so-called “bimbofication” community.

The Daily Mail reported that the messages show Bryon praising the models and expressing his admiration for “huge, huge ridiculous boobs.” The outlet also reported that he appeared to reference his marriage to the high-ranking government official in some of the exchanges.

“Ms. Noem is devastated. The family was blindsided by this, and they ask for privacy and prayers at the time,” a representative for Kristi told the New York Post on March 31.

One woman claimed to the Daily Mail that she had asked Bryon — who was using the pseudonym “Jason Jackson” — about rumors that Kristi was having an ongoing affair with her adviser, Corey Lewandowski.

“I asked him about it and his response was, ‘I know. There’s nothing I can do about it,’ “ the woman told the outlet.

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The allegations against Bryon surfaced just weeks after Kristi was removed as homeland security secretary following a series of contentious congressional hearings. During the hearings, which Bryon attended, lawmakers pressed Kristi on the department’s immigration enforcement policies and other issues.

At one point, Democratic California Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove asked Kristi whether she had “sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski.” She rejected the question, responding, “I am shocked we’re going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee.”

Rumors of an affair between Kristi and Lewendowski have circulated since her tenure as South Dakota governor, but both have repeatedly denied the allegations.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”