Fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her alleged lover Corey Lewandowski were the butt of bipartisan jokes Saturday night at the Gridiron dinner in Washington, DC.
The scandal over the $220 million taxpayer-funded TV ads approved by Noem, as well as her relationship with Lewandowski, both of which led to her ouster, were hot fodder for Govs. JB Pritzker (D), Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) and journalists — who roasted the Trump administration officials over at the annual white-tie event.
“I heard that Kristi and Corey have a safe word – ‘pardon,’” Pritzker quipped during his remarks.
The line was a reference to The Post’s exclusive reporting earlier this month indicating that Lewandowski – one of Noem’s top aides – bragged that he could do “whatever” he wanted at the Department of Homeland Security because he believed Trump would pardon him.
The Illinois governor also made light of Noem’s infamous account of shooting her family dog.
“Did you see the hearings right before Kristi got fired?” Pritzker said. “Tom Tillis ripping into her. She had no response. It was like her dog ate her homework. But we know that can’t be true.”
Meanwhile, Sanders joked that she sought out advice from Noem and others before the dinner.
“Mike Johnson told me to do whatever President Trump says. John Thune told me to ignore whatever President Trump says. And Kristi Noem was a huge help. She said, ‘Sarah, just tell them that the president already approved everything,” the Arkansas governor quipped.
During a disastrous Senate hearing earlier this month, Noem testified that Trump personally approved the DHS ad campaign, which prominently featured the former South Dakota governor.
However, in an interview with Reuters, Trump declared, “I never knew anything about it” when asked if he approved the ad campaign.
“In Arkansas, a nice podium is too much for a public official,” Sanders continued, referring to criticism she received for purchasing a $19,000 lectern, “but in Washington, it’s a $200 million ad campaign and three private jets.”
A full musical skit, written and performed by Gridiron journalists, was also dedicated to the alleged Noem-Lewandowski love affair.
The performance – set to the Sonny and Cher song, “I Got You Babe” – featured journalists dressed in ICE tactical gear singing backup lyrics.
“Your TV ads went way too far, Trump don’t like it when he’s not the star,” the reporter playing Lewandowski sang at one point. Another lyric went, “Don’t worry boss, it’s not too late, I’ll bring you back in 2028.”
Noem’s stunning non-answer during a congressional hearing about whether she had “sexual relations” with Lewandowski was the “final straw” that prompted Trump to fire her, The Post previously reported.
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