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Kristi Noem’s recent appearance on Fox News’s “Jesse Watters Primetime” on January 6, 2026, sparked a buzz due to her striking facial transformation. During her segment discussing ICE’s investigation into tax fraud in Minneapolis and other areas, Noem was seen wearing a black baseball cap, with her signature brown hair extensions cascading beneath it, paired with a matching black long-sleeve shirt. Her makeup was notably pronounced, featuring bold eye makeup and heavily defined eyebrows, complemented by a vivid red lip gloss. However, the attention quickly shifted to her noticeably swollen lips.
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Noem’s lips appeared unusually plump, sparking speculation that they had been enhanced with fillers. Observers noted that her lips were the most animated part of her face during the broadcast. It seemed possible that she had received recent injections to prepare for her television appearance, as her cheeks also appeared fuller, suggesting additional filler use. The overall effect was a face that appeared immobile, possibly due to a recent Botox session.
Images from Noem’s appearance quickly circulated on X, formerly known as Twitter, where users were quick to criticize her apparent overuse of cosmetic enhancements. Comments ranged from “Hit the brakes on the Botox ASAP Kristi,” to humorous remarks like “When your Botox injector hates you.” Another user posed the question, “What is happening with Kristi Noem’s face?” Comparisons were drawn between Noem and other figures associated with the Trump era, such as Kimberly Guilfoyle and Laura Loomer. Some even recalled a “South Park” episode that mocked Noem’s alleged cosmetic surgeries.
Back in August 2025, “South Park” had lampooned Noem and other Trump administration officials, depicting her leading ICE agents to a fictional Dora the Explorer concert. In the episode, Noem’s animated character experienced a cosmetic mishap in the sun, causing her face to comically melt. This scene resurfaced on social media alongside clips of her recent Fox News appearance, drawing renewed attention to her real-life cosmetic choices.
The real-life implications of the “South Park” parody seemed to manifest in Noem’s appearance, leading many to believe she had taken her cosmetic enhancements too far. Close-up images from the broadcast highlighted the stark contrast between her seemingly tightened facial skin and the more natural texture of her neck, suggesting extensive use of Botox, fillers, and possibly facelifts. The Secretary of Homeland Security appeared to have overstepped with her facial procedures, creating a noticeable disparity between her face and body.
A telltale sign that Kristi Noem went overboard with cosmetic procedures
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In August 2025, “South Park” took aim at Kristi Noem and other members of the Trump administration. Noem was ruthlessly satirized in the episode, in which she was depicted leading a group of ICE agents to a Dora the Explorer concert. Afterwards, the cartoon version of Noem was seen standing in the parking lot, where exposure to the sun had an adverse effect on her cosmetic procedures. The skin on the former governor’s face began to slide off, and the animated Noem looked as if she had been dropped in a vat of acid. Screenshots from that scene began to be shared across social media once again alongside clips of her Fox News appearance.
The cosmetic procedures spoofed in the cartoon had become evident in real life, with many thinking that Noem’s Mar-a-Lago face had gone too far. Detailed images of the right-wing politician’s neck in the clip revealed just how much work she had possibly undergone. While Noem’s face seemed taut, likely as a result of Botox, fillers, and possible facelifts, the skin around her neck looked scrunched. The Secretary of Homeland Security had seemingly overshot the mark on her face, which offered a stark contrast to the skin on the rest of her body.
