Kristi Noem's Swearing-In Ceremony Delay Causes JD Vance to Leave Early

Kristi Noem, the newly confirmed Secretary of Homeland Security, faced an unexpected delay during her swearing-in ceremony, leading Vice President JD Vance to leave before she arrived. The ceremony, originally scheduled to take place at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, was delayed due to a sentimental reason tied to Noem’s family history.

Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, was confirmed for her new role with a 59-34 vote in the Senate, securing bipartisan support as a member of the Trump administration. However, when the time came for her to be sworn in, she arrived late—about 15 minutes after Vice President Vance had already departed. Politico reported that Vance waited for 25 minutes before leaving to avoid disrupting his busy schedule.

The delay stemmed from the late arrival of a Bible that belonged to Noem’s late father, a deeply sentimental item she has used for every office she’s ever been sworn into. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, emphasized the importance of the Bible in Noem’s statement to the press.

“Secretary Noem has used this sentimental Bible to be sworn into every office she has ever held. She was honored to be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home with her dad’s Bible. We are grateful to the Vice President and his office,” McLaughlin stated.

In the absence of the planned ceremony with the Vice President, Noem was eventually sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas at his home later that day.

While the ceremony did not go as planned, the incident highlights Noem’s personal connection to her family’s legacy and her commitment to incorporating that into her public service. Meanwhile, the Vice President’s departure underscores the challenges of balancing tight schedules in high-level government roles.

This slight mishap may have been a logistical hiccup, but it didn’t overshadow Noem’s official induction into her role as Secretary of Homeland Security—a position she now holds at a pivotal time for the administration.