Kristi Noem’s Airport Video Crashes on Takeoff
From New York to Miami, airports reject the DHS wannabe influencer's partisan video as propaganda that may violate federal law.
WASHINGTON — From New York to Miami to Seattle, major airports are refusing to run Homeland Security influencer Kristi Noem’s shutdown video at TSA checkpoints, calling it partisan propaganda that violates their policies—and possibly federal law.
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Miami International Airport confirmed it won’t show the clip, joining a coast-to-coast list that includes JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Chicago O’Hare and Midway, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Portland, and Seattle-Tacoma, among others.
In the 30-second spot, Noem blames “Democrats in Congress” for the Oct. 1 shutdown and tells travelers “most of our TSA employees are working without pay.” Airports say that’s naked electioneering masquerading as a PSA.
The Port Authority, which runs New York/New Jersey’s airports, points to its ban on “politically partisan messages.” Portland officials cite the Hatch Act and Oregon law against using public assets for political messaging. Chicago’s aviation department says its rules bar content that endorses or opposes any party.
Florida is firmly in the no-thanks camp. MIA says it will stick to neutral Real ID notices on county-controlled screens. Nearby Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International rejected the spot under its ban on political ads.
This isn’t confined to blue strongholds. Phoenix Sky Harbor and Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International also declined, citing political-content bans and Hatch Act concerns. Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina and Pittsburgh International said no. Kansas City International joined as well.
On Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats want to know if DHS crossed legal lines by producing and distributing a partisan message with government funds. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) has formally requested a Hatch Act investigation, calling the video “partisan” and “misleading.” A 17-senator bloc is pressing for details on who approved and financed the production.
DHS lies (as usual), saying the video is factual, then lies again, saying airport security remains “largely unimpacted.” The backlash, however, shows how far Noem strayed from the apolitical tone that typically governs airport messaging. A few TSA-leased monitors—in Detroit and Bismarck—are still playing the clip, exceptions that only underscore how widely the message has been rejected.
The growing “no-play” list (confirmed)
New York/New Jersey: JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, Stewart, Westchester, Rochester, Buffalo, Albany.
Illinois: Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway.
Washington/Oregon: Seattle-Tacoma; Portland International.
Arizona/Nevada: Phoenix Sky Harbor; Las Vegas Harry Reid.
Florida: Miami International; Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International.
Pennsylvania/Missouri/Kansas: Pittsburgh International; Springfield–Branson National; Kansas City International.
Georgia/Indiana/Minnesota/Virginia/Maryland/North Carolina/Ohio: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta; Indianapolis; Minneapolis–St. Paul; Norfolk; Baltimore/Washington; Charlotte Douglas; Cleveland Hopkins (reported).
Airports saying they can’t (or don’t) show any videos at checkpoints
Austin–Bergstrom and several others say there are no checkpoint monitors capable of running the clip.
MY TAKE: Noem tried to turn the nation’s security lines into a campaign billboard. Airports—Democratic- and Republican-run alike—took one look and hit “decline,” citing the rules she’s supposed to uphold. For a cabinet secretary, that’s not just political lightweight territory; it’s an embarrassment to the law she swore to follow. And if investigators determine DHS used public money to push a partisan line, this episode won’t end at the terminal.
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Why did I have to see that POS video at LAX, a city terrorized by Noem’s goon squad? LA of all places & while TSA agents worked without pay? Disgusting!!