Considering how much Kristi Noem appears to oppose immigration, many people would assume that she also dislikes the cultures and cuisines of the very people she speaks out against. However, that didn’t seem to be the case, as the internet recently discovered that to celebrate her 54th birthday, she visited a Mexican restaurant in Washington, D.C. To complete the look, she even wore a sombrero while a song in Spanish played in the background. In the video, Noem can be seen laughing, clapping, and appearing to enjoy the moment. There was a baby on her lap and several older individuals seated nearby, creating a scene that looked warm, relaxed, and celebratory.
If this had been almost anyone else, the public likely wouldn’t have paid much attention. But this wasn’t just anyone. This was Kristi Noem, a figure closely associated with strict immigration policies and rhetoric that many people view as hostile toward immigrants, particularly those from Latin America. That context is what made the video so striking and, to many Washington, D.C. residents and people online, deeply ironic. Seeing her wear a sombrero and take part in a moment centered on Mexican culture felt contradictory to many, given the positions she has taken in the past.
Internet users were quick to voice their reactions, and many criticized what they viewed as hypocrisy. If Noem supposedly has such negative views toward immigrants, they wondered, why celebrate her birthday at a Mexican restaurant in Washington, D.C.? Why participate in cultural elements that so many people from that same background have been targeted or marginalized over?
“This is what trashy human beings do,” one user wrote. Another commenter speculated bitterly about how restaurant workers must have felt serving Noem, given her political history and association with immigration enforcement. There was no evidence to support those assumptions, but the frustration behind the comments reflected the anger many people still feel about the real-life impact of deportations and raids carried out under the agencies tied to her leadership.
“Instantly reminded me of the video going around of the rich people’s bathroom with black caricatures complete with watermelons to make it extra racist. Why do they surround themselves with what they hate? I would never have a MAGA themed birthday party or put miniature figures of JD Vance on my fireplace,” another user wrote.
Others questioned why the restaurant even served Noem in the first place, considering what they believe her policies have done to immigrant communities. “One thing I have learned with the age of Trump is that America is chock-full of functioning sociopaths. Way more than I used to think,” another user stated. And one of the strongest reactions read, “Every time you think you know who someone is, they can’t get any worse. Here they are. I try so hard not to hate. But there are no words for how much I hate this woman.”
