Overview

• Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, visited Israel and posed for cameras at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Sunday.
• Rep. Jasmine Crockett criticized Noem's trip, suggesting it was primarily a photo op with little substantive purpose.
• Crockett questioned whether Noem's visit addressed recent security concerns, including the shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington.
• The criticism fits into a broader pattern of accusations that Noem prioritizes media appearances over meaningful policy actions.
• Democratic lawmakers, including Crockett, have expressed broader skepticism about the Trump administration's focus on optics over effective governance.