Kristi Noem has reportedly lost her complimentary Mar‑a‑Lago membership in Florida after beingpushed out of the Department of Homeland Security, according to a report published on Tuesday, 10 March, raising questions about what her sudden fall from Donald Trump's inner circle means for her political future. The claim, attributed to sources speaking to columnist Rob Shuter, suggests the former South Dakota governor isno longer entitled to the exclusive perks she enjoyedwhile serving under the former president.
Noem's abrupt removal from DHS blindsided even those close to her. For years, she had positioned herself as one of Trump's most vocal defenders, earning her the'ICE Barbie' nicknamefrom critics and a reputation for unwavering loyalty among his supporters. Her shift from favoured ally to abruptly sidelined operative came as a shock inside Republican circles, where her name had once circulated as a potential vice‑presidential pick.
According to Shuter's reporting on the Naughty But Nice Substack, Noem's access to Mar‑a‑Lago was always a benefit tied directly to her standing with Trump. A Palm Beach insider described the arrangement bluntly.Cabinet‑level allies often receive perks, they said, but those courtesies evaporate the moment a figure is no longer considered part of Trump's inner orbit. In Noem's case, that reportedly included a complimentary membership at Trump's private club.
No more DHS badge, no more luxury ‘work’ trips with Corey Lewandowski, and no more Mile High Club on the public dime. Kristi Noem is officially headed home to her husband.pic.twitter.com/E5SPxDeL05
The implication is clear: her removal from DHS did not simply end her government role, it also shut the door on the social and political advantages that come with proximity to the former president's most exclusive spaces. Sources told Shuter that Noem's free pass into the club is gone and that, if she wants to continue circulating among the 'MAGA elite', she now faces the same financial barrier as any other applicant.
That barrier is substantial. The initiation fee for new members is reportedly $1 million, with annual dues of around $20,000. A separate insider noted that hernew diplomatic role — Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas— does not guarantee continued access to Mar‑a‑Lago. If she wants to return, the source said, she would have to file an application and pay the same seven‑figure buy‑in as the rest.
President Trump on Truth Social:"Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. I thank Kristi for her service at 'Homeland.'"pic.twitter.com/k5HnUGgi7n
For a politician who once enjoyed full access to Trump's Palm Beach headquarters, the downgrade lands with symbolic force. Mar‑a‑Lago is not just a private club; it functions as the epicentre of Trump's post‑presidency political machinery. Losing entry privileges can signal, in Trump‑world terms, a complete withdrawal of favour.
A Washington insider quoted by Shuter said Noem was already wounded by the way she was removed from DHS. She reportedly felt'completely blindsided', believing her loyalty to Trump insulated her from such an abrupt demotion. If the revocation of her Mar‑a‑Lago membership is accurate, the episode deepens the impression that Noem has fallen sharply out of Trump's good graces.
This paints a picture of a political figure struggling to reconcile her self‑image as one of Trump's strongest allies with a reality in which she appears expendable. Noem's allies have long argued she delivered consistently for the former president, defending him on cable news, echoing his talking points and embracing his brand more tightly than many Republican governors. Yet the report suggests that loyalty, at least in Trump's world, is transactional.
Source: International Business Times UK
