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Noem Joins Trumps On Air Force One Following Fireworks Show, Back In SD

Screenshot of Dan Scavino Jr., Official White House Twitter

Governor Kristi Noem is back in the state of South Dakota after flying to Washington DC Friday night.

Noem joined President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Air Force One following the fireworks show at Mount Rushmore.

A spokesperson for the governor’s office says the governor joined the flight to have a chat with the president.

When asked why Governor Noem was able to fly on Air Force One, White House Press Secretary Kaleigh McEnany says that’s a question for Secret Service.

“But I will tell you this, they take the president’s health very seriously. They would never put him in a situation that would put him in harms way,” McEnany says.

The Secret Service is referring reporters back to the White House Press Office.

Photos are circulating of Noem hugging Kimberly Guilfoyle at an event in the Black Hills area. Guilfoyle is a Trump fundraising official who tested positive for COVID-19 while in South Dakota.

Governor Noem took a COVID test on Friday, before meeting President Trump for the fireworks show. The test result was negative.

A spokesperson for the governor says Noem conferred with the white house doctor immediately before boarding Air Force One. According to the spokesperson, the white house doctor said it was safe for her to travel on the plane.

The Centers for Disease Control says it is possible to spread the coronavirus, even if they test negative. A negative sample may result if it was collected early in an infection. The carrier may test positive later.

Guilfoyle, who is Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend, did not attend the fireworks show.

Lee Strubinger is SDPB’s Rapid City-based politics and public policy reporter. Lee is a two-time national Edward R. Murrow Award winning reporter. He holds a master’s in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield.