In the lead-up to the Monumental Leaders Rally in South Dakota, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has set its sights on Governor Kristi Noem, branding her as "Donald Trump's newest endorser."
Speculation surrounding a potential announcement at the South Dakota Republican Party's event has been growing.
In a press release scheduled for Friday evening, the DNC plans to introduce Noem as "the latest MAGA extremist to endorse Donald Trump's 2024 presidential run."
DNC spokeswoman Rhyan Lake issued a statement, saying, "Of course Donald Trump's first campaign trip in weeks is to visit South Dakota
ground zero for Trump's anti-abortion agenda, where the governor thinks 10-year-old rape victims should be forced to give birth."
Noem is prepared to address these DNC criticisms in her speech on Friday. In an excerpt from her prepared remarks shared with the Washington Examiner, she anticipates attacks and misinformation but remains resolute in her stance.
"Yes, I will be attacked for speaking the truth to you all tonight. Yes, I expect Joe Biden, the other candidates, their political operatives,
and the media will perpetuate ugly, hateful misinformation in an attempt to destroy me and my family because of my opinions.
It's nothing new. I'm getting used to it, honestly."
The DNC's statement also highlights Noem's political history, characterizing her as one of the most right-wing elected officials in the country.
They accuse her of championing the hallmarks of the MAGA agenda,
including policies that they believe infringe on Americans' freedoms, support efforts to alter Medicare, favor the wealthy, and ease access to firearms for criminals.
Despite Trump's limited campaign activity in recent times, the DNC sees his appearance at the South Dakota rally as an opportunity to showcase what they consider his extreme positions.
The Monumental Leaders rally, set to occur in Rapid City at 7:30 p.m. EDT, features both Trump and Noem as special guests and is expected to draw nearly 7,000 attendees, with Trump's remarks broadcast nationwide.