Kristi Noem makes her debut as special envoy for ‘Shield of the Americas’ — days after she’s fired as DHS chief

Kristi Noem has transitioned into a new role within the Trump administration, debuting Saturday as special envoy for the newly announced “Shield of the Americas” initiative. President Donald Trump introduced the program at his golf resort outside Miami, where he gathered more than a dozen allied Latin American leaders.

Noem’s new position comes after President Trump removed her from her post as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday. The change followed several public controversies, including her testimony before a House committee regarding funding for television advertisements and questions about her professional relationship with top aide Corey Lewandowski.

At Saturday’s event, Noem sat in the front row alongside War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. She did not speak during the main announcement, as President Trump handed remarks to Secretary Rubio and then Secretary Hegseth. The president indicated that the initiative would operate under Rubio’s supervision.

“I want to thank Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his leadership in organizing this really important effort. He’s fantastic,” President Trump said.

The “Shield of the Americas” initiative is described as a U.S.-led coalition of conservative Latin American governments focused on combating drug cartels and countering Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere.

“We have to eradicate them. We have to knock the hell out of them,” President Trump said, referring to cartels.

Although Noem did not take questions from reporters after the public announcement, she addressed the Latin American leaders during a closed-door luncheon.

“Our objectives are going to be to try to destroy the cartels,” Noem said. “We’re going to go after these narco-terrorists that are destroying our people.”

Few specifics were provided about the responsibilities attached to her new role. A special envoy position typically functions as a diplomatic liaison between the United States and foreign governments.

During the luncheon, Noem told attendees, “I will, when the press leaves, give you all my personal cell phone number so that you may reach me at any time that you need something.”

Leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago attended the event. Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, and Brazil were not invited.

While the initiative’s stated focus is eliminating drug trafficking, some analysts suggest it is also aimed at reinforcing U.S. influence in Latin America and limiting China’s growing presence in the region.

“The most likely outcome is a more fragmented region,” said Francisco Urdinez, associate professor at the Political Science Institute of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. “Right-leaning governments will align more closely with Washington, while left-leaning governments will maintain or deepen ties with China.”

Lewandowski is expected to depart the Department of Homeland Security at the end of the month. No announcement has been made regarding his next role or whether he will join Noem in her new assignment.

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