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President Donald Trump responded to the bombshell reveal of pictures showing the husband of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem cross-dressing and exchanging risqu\u00e9 messages and photos with several women, saying he feels \u201cbadly for the family\u201d if the story is confirmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey confirmed it?\u201d Trump asked, speaking to The Daily Mail<\/a>, the outlet that broke the story. \u201cWow, well, I feel badly for the family if that\u2019s the case, that\u2019s too bad. I haven\u2019t seen anything. I don\u2019t know anything about it. That\u2019s too bad, but I just know nothing about it.\u201d<\/p>\n The bizarre story about Noem\u2019s husband Byron Noem and his apparent cross-dressing habits broke on Tuesday morning, with national security experts saying it could have left Noem susceptible to blackmail while she was in the cabinet. A representative for Noem told the New York Post<\/a> that she and her family had been \u201cblindsided\u201d and \u201cdevastated\u201d by the story that broke earlier that day, and asked for \u201cprayers and privacy\u201d as they navigated the situation.<\/p>\n The story alleged that Byron Noem had exchanged risqu\u00e9 messages and photos with several women \u2014 including a number in which he could be seen wearing women\u2019s clothing and with what appear to be balloons stuffed in his shirt. Several outlets referred to the fetish as \u201cbimbofication,\u201d which usually involves role-playing and dressing up to exaggerate physical characteristics that one might associate with a \u201cbimbo.\u201d<\/p>\n Secret double life of Kristi Noem\u2019s crossdressing husband Bryon: The pouting \u2018busty bimbo\u2019 photos and trove of explicit messages https:\/\/t.co\/4GvCcfPK9j<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Daily Mail (@DailyMail) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Byron Noem, according to the reports, used a different name when engaging with others in the fetish community \u2014 but the fact that Noem\u2019s face could be clearly seen in a number of the photos raised questions about whether his activities could still have created a potential national security risk. If he was identified, it would have left his wife open to a potential blackmail situation.<\/p>\n \u201cDamaging information like this can be a tantalizing lead for a hostile intelligence service,\u201d former CIA officer Marc Polymeropoulos told The Daily Mail. \u201cThey approach the person and say, if you work with us we won\u2019t expose this, and if you don\u2019t, we will. That\u2019s espionage 101.\u201d<\/p>\n Byron Noem denied ever sharing any sensitive information. Financial records reviewed by the outlet show he transferred tens of thousands of dollars to the women he was in contact with.<\/p>\n Kristi Noem was removed from the cabinet weeks ago, and has been replaced by former U.S. senator Markwayne Mullin, who was confirmed<\/a> and sworn in earlier this month. Her final months were plagued by scandal<\/a>, including questions over a $200 million advertising contract.<\/p>\n Noem remains in the administration, as Trump appointed her Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas when he removed her from the cabinet position.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n