WASHINGTON — Bryon Noem‘s family members are hoping he finally leaves his wife, embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, after the ultimate “humiliation” from her alleged affair with a top adviser — but fear he’ll continue to stay in his marriage due to his Christian faith and commitment to his vows.
Members of the extended family of Bryon Noem told The Post on Friday that the South Dakota businessman has long felt it was his religious duty to stand behind his wife — even as the very public scandal rocks their marriage.
“He said he decided about 20 years ago that it was his calling from God to support her in whatever she decided to do,” one family member said. “So he has put up with the humiliation. We will see if he sticks with her now.”
“I think it’s him honoring the calling from God,” the family member added. “But it seems like there would be some limit to that.”
The same family member alleged tensions between the Homeland Security chief and her husband’s relatives have simmered for years — and many have long known about her romantic entanglement with Corey Lewandowski, which spilled out into the open this week.
“She despises the Noem family,” the relative said of the axed Cabinet official.
The relative said Bryon Noem appeared determined to show solidarity with his wife even as she faced a bruising public grilling from lawmakers — and hoped it opened his eyes.
“I actually liked that he sat behind her while she was grilled on the ICE atrocities,” the person said. “I think he’s ignored the reality. Maybe he has to face it now.”
Here’s the latest on the firing of Kristi Noem
In a Wednesday House hearing, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) grilled Noem over rumors of her affair with Lewandowski, her top adviser and “special government employee.”
Bryon Noem had left the briefing shortly before the tense questioning came up — during which Kristi Noem refused to deny her relationship with Lewandowski, a leading figure in President Trump’s 2016 campaign.
A second family member told The Post that the controversy unfolding publicly was shocking — and the relative hopes it will wake Bryon up to the reality of his marriage.
“What gets me is she couldn’t say no,” the relative said. “When she’s getting grilled about it, she couldn’t say no.”
Ex-Secretary Kristi Noem’s most memorable photo ops during her tenure at DHS:
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The relative said they also believed Bryon Noem’s Christian faith — and devotion to his children — would keep the marriage intact even amid the fallout.
“Bryon is a Christian man, and he believes that marriage is forever,” the relative said. “He’s very close with his children. I’m sure this is really hard on them.”
Bryon Noem did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Kristi Noem is expected to leave her post at DHS at the end of the month, with sources telling The Post that her answers about her relationship with Lewandowski were the final straw for Trump.
