Kristi Noem's bizarre reason for carrying $3k in cash (2025)

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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was carrying $3,000 in cash when her purse was stolen because she was planning to hand out the money to family as Easter gifts, she claims.

The so-called 'ICE Barbie' was robbed while she was dining at the Capital Burger in Washington D.C., despite being accompanied by her Secret Service detail.

But a law enforcement source disclosed to CNN that there were plenty of valuables in the bag that was stolen on Sunday.

The man was able to take off with Noem's driver's license, medication, house keys, passport, DHS badge, makeup bag, blank checks and roughly $3,000 in cash, the source shared.

'Her entire family was in town including her children and grandchildren – she was using the withdrawal to treat her family to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts,' the spokesperson said of the wedge of cash now missing, DailyMail.com learned.

After reviewing the restaurant's security footage, the Secret Service determined that Noem's bag was snatched by a white man in a medical mask before he exited the restaurant.

Noem, speaking to press at the White House Easter Egg Roll, confirmed that the incident occurred and shared that the incident is unresolved.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the incident in an email to DailyMail.com and shared additional details.

McLaughlin said that the robbery occurred while Noem was out celebrating Easter dinner with her family.

It is unclear at this time what restaurant she was dining at, though it was reportedly an establishment in downtown D.C. called the Capital Burger.

The manager of the Capital Burger joint told DailyMail.com that he 'hadn't heard' of the incident that allegedly happened less than 24 hours ago at his restaurant and referred all inquiries to his media relations team.

The Secret Service has launched a probe into the robbery, CNN reports.

Sunday's robbery is hugely embarrassing for Noem, who has courted controversy with her tough-on-crime stance as Homeland Security boss.

She has repeatedly donned tactical gear to join Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to round up migrants suspected of being in the US illegally.

Noem's decision to couple the look with lustrous hair and full makeup has seen her branded 'ICE Barbie.'

She sparked further earlier this month after accidentally pointing a rifle at one ICE officer while beaming for a photo.

The former Governor of South Dakota sparked fury in August last year after admitting in her memoir that she'd shot and killed an aggressive hunting puppy called Cricket.

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