Kristi Noem Files for Divorce From Husband Bryon After 34 Years of Marriage
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has officially filed for divorce from her husband, Bryon Noem, ending a marriage that lasted more than three decades.
Noem filed the paperwork Monday in Hamlin County, South Dakota, according to court records.
The filing cites irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.
Noem also left open the possibility of seeking financial support as the divorce moves forward.
The filing comes months after reports that the marriage was headed toward an end.
Noem’s mother, Corinne Arnold, said in July that the couple was already moving toward divorce.
The breakup followed a highly publicized controversy surrounding Bryon Noem earlier this year.
In March, a report claimed Bryon had taken photos of himself wearing oversized fake breasts and communicated with adult performers connected to the “bimbofication” fetish community.
The report further alleged that Bryon told people he wanted “huge, huge ridiculous boobs.”
Those allegations quickly became a major embarrassment for the family and attracted national attention.
Kristi Noem’s team responded at the time by saying she was devastated by the report.
“The family was blindsided by this, and they ask for privacy and prayers at the time,” her team said.
The allegations were not the only source of attention surrounding Noem’s personal life.
She has also been linked in recent months to political operative Corey Lewandowski.
Noem and Lewandowski have been photographed together and have maintained a longstanding political relationship.
The divorce filing itself, however, does not publicly accuse either spouse of misconduct and instead uses the standard irreconcilable-differences language, per TMZ.
Kristi and Bryon Noem married in 1992.
The couple has three children and four grandchildren.
Their relationship stretched across Noem’s rise from South Dakota politics to national office.
Noem served as governor of South Dakota before joining President Donald Trump’s administration as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
She later left that role earlier this year.
The split now marks another major change in Noem’s life following her departure from the federal government.
Reports about trouble in the marriage had been circulating for months before the filing became official.
Arnold previously described the situation as difficult and suggested the problems had been building for some time.
That made Monday’s filing less unexpected, though the formal court action now confirms that the marriage is ending.
The case will now move through South Dakota’s legal system as the couple addresses issues surrounding finances and any other remaining marital matters.
With their children grown, child custody is not expected to be a central issue.
The divorce also brings renewed attention to the controversy involving Bryon’s alleged private behavior earlier this year.
Those claims became the subject of national media coverage and even political satire.
Noem largely avoided discussing the allegations publicly beyond her team’s initial statement.
Her attorney has since said she has confidence in the South Dakota judicial process and plans to reserve further comments for the legal proceedings.
For now, the filing confirms what had been rumored for months.
After 34 years together, Kristi and Bryon Noem are officially heading toward divorce.
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