Kristi Noem's Rumored Boy Toy Corey Lewandowski May Be Her Undoing In The Trump Admin

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Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski have been plagued by messy affair rumors since at least 2021. But, as the gossip has waxed and waned, the rumored couple has notably continued working closely together. When Noem became the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Lewandowski tagged along as a "special government employee." This was the same job classification that Elon Musk had, and due to the position's 130-day maximum term, the tech billionaire ultimately left his role at the end of May 2025. In contrast, Lewandowski is still on the job. While it's entirely possible that he's worked more intermittently, he could also be flouting the rules. Additionally, some of Lewandowski's other behavior has attracted President Donald Trump's ire. "Yes, he likes [Noem], but it has been brought to his attention that [Lewandowski] is a problem, and the agency is being mismanaged because of it," a White House insider informed CNN in November 2025.

Moreover, according to a December 2025 report by The Bulwark, the president's goodwill could have evaporated since, with some people claiming Noem might lose her job to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. In September, both Noem and Lewandowski were called into a meeting with Trump regarding reports of personnel issues at the DHS. The accounts dinged Noem's and Lewandowski's reputations even further, since staffers contended that they engaged in unprofessional behavior during a work meeting. "The level of disrespect and screaming at everybody in that room — I think people were really shocked and taken aback," one such employee informed New York magazine. Noem also reportedly peppered her remarks with expletives, adding to the uncomfortable atmosphere.

The rumors about Kristi Noem's job security could be totally unfounded. "This 'report' — and the Bulwark — is total FAKE NEWS!" White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson contended on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Secretary Noem is doing a great job implementing the President's agenda and Making America Safe Again." Still, Noem's alleged affair with Corey Lewandowski continued to generate headlines throughout 2025. And their continued working relationship has only exacerbated the persistent gossip. At minimum, the DHS secretary might want to reconsider the scope of Corey Lewandowski's job description. He purportedly wielded an outsized influence for several big departmental decisions, causing people to question who's in charge as a result. 

Regardless of Noem's future employment status, it's entirely possible that her association with Lewandowski has already severely impacted her resume, causing Noem to miss out on the chance to be Donald Trump's vice president. "Trump's aides knew if Noem was picked, her relationship with Lewandowski would become one hell of a distraction," author Alex Isenstadt posited in "Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power." According to certain staff members, Lewandowski spent a lot of time with Noem, giving them plenty of opportunities to observe questionable interactions between the two. Trump reportedly weighed in on Lewandowski's employment as well, ultimately resulting in his current temporary status, rather than a permanent role in Noem's department.