Kristi Noem has become one of the most infamous and disliked figures in America, often mentioned in the same breath as Trump and Elon Musk. Her leadership over DHS and ICE agents has made her especially unpopular among people who already distrust federal immigration enforcement. That frustration boiled over recently in Washington DC, where two protesters interrupted a committee meeting in dramatic fashion, waving signs and shouting over the proceedings.
What grabbed the most attention was the first protester. He appeared dressed like a priest, looking almost exactly like a character you would expect to see in The Exorcist. The resemblance was intentional, and he made that very clear. Without warning, he jumped up from his seat and screamed, “Stop ICE raids! The power of Christ compels you!” while holding CODEPINK signs. In his hand, he also clutched a pocket cross, stretching it toward Kristi Noem as if performing an exorcism on the DHS secretary herself.
Noem stopped talking instantly. Her face froze into a tight, polite smile as she tried to maintain composure. Security quickly sprang into action, grabbing the man and attempting to drag him out of the room. Even as he was pulled away, he continued yelling “love thy neighbor” and “the power of Christ compels you!” His theatrics caught the attention of everyone present, and cameras recorded the reactions. One man in the audience was seen covering his mouth, obviously trying not to laugh at the surreal scene unfolding in front of him.
Moments after the robed protester was removed, another individual stood up and lifted a poster demanding that Noem remove ICE from the streets. He shouted several criticisms of immigration enforcement, though his delivery was far less theatrical compared to the priest-like protester. Wearing regular clothes, he didn’t command the same level of spectacle, but he still made his message clear.
Online, the reaction was immediate and overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Many viewers loved the dramatic interruption and felt it captured their feelings toward Noem’s leadership. One user declared, “Code Pink doing the Lord’s work.”
Others expressed frustration with Noem’s expression throughout the protest, commenting that her calm and steady smile felt dismissive, even smug. As one person put it, “The way she smugly and self satisfied smiles is enraging. These ghouls literally derive pleasure from their cruelties. Sick and twisted.”
However, not everyone celebrated the moment. Some pushed back simply because the protest was staged by CODEPINK. Critics argued that people shouldn’t align with the group at all, pointing to its controversial reputation. One redditor warned, “Codepink works with Russia to divide and dupe the populace into precisely this outcome. They’re not a good organization overall.”
