Fired former U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing mounting scrutiny after a British tabloid published alleged messages and photos it claims are tied to her husband.
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The Daily Mail reported that it obtained what it described as messages and images attributed to Bryon Noem, including communications linked to a fetish community. The outlet promoted the story on X, writing, “Secret double life of Kristi Noem's crossdressing husband Bryon: The pouting ‘busty bimbo’ photos and trove of explicit messages.”
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According to that report, Bryon Noem allegedly praised women’s exaggerated physical features in explicit messages and expressed interest in similar aesthetics, while also sharing photos of himself in feminine clothing, including outfits with simulated breasts and tight garments. The outlet further reported that he sent at least $25,000 to women he interacted with online and communicated with under an apparent pseudonym.
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The claims have not been independently verified. The Advocate has not confirmed the authenticity of the messages or images.
Neither Noem nor her representatives have confirmed the materials. It remains unclear whether they are authentic, altered, or shared without consent. The White House did not respond to The Advocate’s request for comment.
In a statement to the New York Post, Noem’s representatives said she was “devastated” and that “the family was blindsided,” asking for privacy, the outlet claims.
Bryon Noem (L), husband of US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (R), listens as Secretary Noem testifies before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Homeland Security, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, May 20, 2025. ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Noem has built a national profile in part through support for policies restricting LGBTQ+ rights, particularly those affecting transgender people and gender expression. As governor of South Dakota, she signed a “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” critics said enabled discrimination, approved a ban on transgender girls participating in women’s sports, and backed restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors.
Cross-dressing “is not inherently considered queer or trans,” Them notes. That understanding is widely reflected in medical and advocacy guidance, which distinguishes gender expression, such as clothing or presentation, from gender identity or sexual orientation.
People who cross-dress may identify as heterosexual and cisgender.
