Who Is Kristi Noem’s Husband Bryon Noem? Inside Their Family Life in 50+ Photos

Bryon Noem’s marriage to the former DHS Secretary is under intense scrutiny following her stunning refusal to deny an affair during a high-profile House hearing.

While Kristi Noem has spent years climbing the political ladder, Bryon has mostly stayed in the shadows of their South Dakota farm. But as the spotlight on his wife turns from policy to serious personal scandal, many are wondering how much this inconspicuous husband can truly handle.

From high school sweethearts to a married couple living states apart, their complex journey and the controversy currently rocking the White House are captured in this exclusive look. This portrait of a family caught in a political firestorm is told through more than 50 pictures.

A Farm Boy From Hamlin County

Long before the affair rumors and the congressional hearings, Bryon Noem was just a kid from rural South Dakota. He grew up between Bryant and Lake Norden in Hamlin County — hauling bales, cleaning barns, pitching hay, and swimming in creeks.

He graduated from Hamlin High School in 1988 and went on to earn his degree from Northern State University in 1993, just a year after marrying his high school sweetheart, Kristi Arnold.

Bryon had first met Kristi when they were teenagers in South Dakota. The couple went on to expand their family, and have three children together: Kassidy, Kennedy, and Booker.

For a long time, the plan was simple: they would be a farming family. After college, he worked for his father and then spent a decade on the Arnold family farm, Kristi’s family’s operation.

Bryon worked for Kristi’s family farm for a decade before transitioning into the insurance business. In 2003, he started managing an insurance agency at Bryant State Bank.

Seven years later, in 2010, Bryon purchased that agency outright and has run it ever since. “I am blessed to be doing what I do — working with great people,” he wrote on his agency website.

At the time of their wedding, Bryon married Kristi, believing she would follow the family business and become a farmer. For several years, that was the direction they were headed until a tragedy changed the course of their lives.

The Loss That Pushed Kristi Into Politics

In 1994, Kristi’s father was killed in a farming accident. Kristi had already dropped out of college at 22 to help run the family business after his death.

Years later, she reflected on that loss, saying: “It turned our whole lives upside down. He was the guy who could do anything. I remember going to bed that night thinking, ‘I have no idea what tomorrow looks like because he’s not here.'”

The accident was also what drew her toward politics. “When I lost him and almost lost everything, it made me start showing up and getting involved in policies that really do, tragically, crush families,” Kristi said.

Bryon has stated that after a long conversation about her career shift, he supported her decision to enter public life.

Kristi became a state lawmaker in 2006 and was elected to Congress in 2010, the same year Bryon bought his insurance agency. She eventually returned to finish her degree in political science at South Dakota State University at age 40, graduating on the same day she spoke at commencement.

“That was one thing about coming here to Washington, D.C. — I never felt insecure about my education. I felt like I had been through the school of hard knocks,” she said.

Living Apart to Keep the Family Together

One of the more difficult aspects of Kristi’s marriage to Bryon is how rarely they actually live together. Even when Kristi was the Governor, she admitted that being in the same house was a rare occurrence.

While she occupied the governor’s mansion in Pierre as South Dakota’s governor, Bryon remained on the family farm near Castlewood so their son Booker could continue his schooling without disruption. The couple saw each other on weekends.

The distance widened further when Kristi was appointed Secretary of Homeland Security and relocated to a Washington, D.C., apartment. Reports emerged that a man had allegedly been seen doing chores at her D.C. residence, and speculation online pointed to Corey Lewandowski.

Who Is Corey Lewandowski?

Corey is the president and CEO of Lewandowski Strategic Advisors, LLC, a government and public affairs consulting firm. He served as Donald Trump’s chief political adviser and campaign manager during a portion of the 2016 presidential campaign, overseeing all aspects of the operation.

He holds a master’s degree in political science from American University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, and he also attended the Naval War College.

In June 2025, he was appointed Chief Advisor to the Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, placing him directly under Kristi’s authority.

The Rumors Bryon Has Had to Live With

Corey, who has a wife and children of his own, has been Kristi’s constant companion in the political world. Speculation about a romantic relationship between them began circulating as early as 2019 and intensified through 2021.

Reports described the two sneaking off on private planes, taking long beach walks, and kissing in public. Kristi vehemently denied the allegations, but the rumors did not stop after her denial.

The commentary has followed the couple into routine social media posts. When Kristi and Bryon uploaded photos from their Easter celebration, Corey’s name appeared in the comments almost immediately.

“Who’s Bryon? I thought you were married to Corey Lewandowski,” one X user snidely commented.

“Wait, is this the husband, boyfriend or pool boy? I can’t keep up,” another posted.

When the Kids Got Pulled In, Too

Two of Bryon and Kristi’s three children have also drawn public scrutiny. Kassidy Peters, their oldest daughter, had her real estate license application initially rejected in 2020.

It was later approved after she was given additional opportunities to apply. Rumors spread that Kristi used her political influence to pressure the licensing agency into approving it, allegations both Kristi and her family denied after an investigation.

Their second daughter, Kennedy Noem, was hired as a policy analyst for Kristi’s staff in 2018 — straight out of college. The hiring drew nepotism accusations. Kennedy left the position two years later.

The Hearing, the Question, and the Non-Answer

Everything came to a head on March 4, 2026, during a House hearing. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) asked point-blank, “Have you had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski?”

In response, Kristi stated, “I am shocked that we’re going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee today. I would tell you is that he is a special government employee who works for the White House.”

“All I would tell you is that he is a special government employee who works for the White House. There are thousands of them in the federal government.”

After repeated pushing from multiple lawmakers for a direct yes or no, Kristi still did not answer. “I really think you need to say the word ‘no’ into the record so that you can clear that up,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said.

Kristi never did.

Sources inside and close to the White House told the New York Post that her non-answer at the hearing was the final straw that led President Trump to move toward firing her as DHS Secretary.

Although Bryon seemingly likes to keep a low profile, the story that played out on national television that Wednesday was very much about his family. And he was in the room when it all unfolded.