Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem
Kristi Lynn Noem: Trump’s Golden Statue at CPAC Ridiculous Online Five Things to See at CPAC Haley Isolated After Trump’s Fall MORE (R) at his address to conservative politics Conference on Action (CPAC) on Saturday announced its state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, meanwhile criticizing other state leaders for resorting to restrictive measures to fight the virus.
Noem, an ally of the former President Trump
Donald TrumpBiden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than 300 defendants in connection with Trump Jr. Capitol revolt: There are “a lot” of Republican Party headlines that should be challenged MORE, began his speech in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, saying the United States needs conservatives for a reason: in 2020.
“The question of why the United States needs conservatives can be answered by just mentioning one year and that year is 2020,” he said. “Everyone knows that almost overnight we went from a roaring economy to a tragic, national shutdown,” he continued, before attributing to Trump a record low unemployment rate in early 2020.
The governor of South Dakota went on to say that once the pandemic hit, many states chose to implement widespread layoffs, which Noem said caused major job losses, school closures and an economic recession.
“Now make it clear to me: COVID didn’t crush the economy, the government crushed the economy,” he said.
Noem added that South Dakota was the only state that never ordered “any business or church” to be shut down and that it also did not issue any shelter orders or a mask warrant, prompting applause and a standing ovation. of many in the crowd. .
Noem also signed up Anthony Fauci
Anthony Fauci A dose of Pfizer vaccine offers significant protection for those who have had COVID-19: Fauci studies: Whatever COVID-19 vaccine is available, “take it” Julia Roberts presents the Fauci Award for Courage: ” You have been a beacon for us MORE, the nation ‘s leading infectious disease expert, stating this President Biden
Joe BidenHouse Democrats approve .9T COVID-19 relief bill with rising minimum wage. Biden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than 300 defendants in connection with Capitol revolt MOREThe chief medical adviser “is very wrong,” a comment that also received a standing ovation from conference attendees.
“We never focused on case numbers,” Noem explained, “but we monitored hospital capacity. Now Dr. FauciAnthony Fauci A dose of Pfizer vaccine provides significant protection for those who have had COVID-19: Fauci studies: Whatever COVID-19 vaccine is available, “take it” Julia Roberts presents the Fauci Courage Award: “You have been a beacon for us MORE, told me that the worst day I had I would have 10,000 patients in the hospital. On the worst day, we had a little over 600 ”.
Despite Noem’s defense of his particular approach to the pandemic, South Dakota saw some of the highest coronavirus and per capita deaths in any U.S. state this fall, despite having a relatively small population of approximately 884,000.
In August, the state hosted the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, where nearly half a million people gathered in a county in South Dakota. The event was later linked to some outbreaks in the Dakotas and surrounding states.
Since then, the state has recovered from the fall hike.
In accordance with The coronavirus database of the New York Times, the state has recorded a total of more than 112,000 coronavirus infections and 1,886 deaths as a result of the virus.
Noem has not explicitly said whether he is looking at a 2024 candidacy for the White House, but his statements to CPAC may provide a high point of possible points of conversation in a candidacy for the GOP presidency nomination.
Presidential candidates usually speak at the meeting, offering them the opportunity to attract widespread recognition and support from Republican party supporters.
A recent one Political Survey / Morning Consult placed Noem at 1% among a crowded race of potential aspirants in 2024, with a majority saying they would support Trump himself if he ran again.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed this week to The Hill that there will be a fundraiser for Noem’s 2022 government campaign at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club next month hosted by Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle
Kimberly GuilfoyleHaley isolated herself after the fall of Trump Noem to secure a fundraiser at Sea-to-Lake hosted by Donald Trump Jr. Republicans are fighting to eliminate Trump MORE.
Noem has vocally expressed his closeness to the former president, even late last month when he said gave Trump a $ 1,100 bust depicting the former president on Mount Rushmore in July last year during his controversial Independence Day visit amid the pandemic.
Trump during his visit delivered a speech in front of thousands of people, many of whom were not masked or socially distanced.
Updated at 11:33 p.m.