The residence for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will soon be fortified by a $400,000 fence.
The security team that keeps Noem safe advised the governor to move ahead with postponed plans to build a fence around the governor’s mansion because of security concerns. Maggie Seidel, Noem’s spokeswoman, said on Wednesday that recent events made it “critical” for the fence to go up. The exact threats made against Noem were not detailed.
“In America, we debate issues; we don’t turn to violence,” Seidel told the Associated Press. “But it only takes one, and per the Governor’s security team, putting up a fence around the residence is critical at this time.”
The fence will be made from powder-coated steel and stand 8 feet tall. Seidel said that Noem will counter some of the cost of the fence with private fundraising, but she did not note how much of the cost will be offset by the private dollars.
Noem, a Republican, garnered national attention for her refusal to shut down her state during the coronavirus pandemic. She has allowed South Dakotans to make their own decisions during the health crisis, which have included some large gatherings such as the Sturgis bike rally that began this week and is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people. Noem’s freedom-first method of governing has earned her the admiration of President Trump and other Republicans who have been opposed to coronavirus lockdowns.
