Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced criticism after sharing photographs of herself beside a large elk she killed during an archery hunting trip in Wyoming. Critics described the images as disturbing and accused her of glorifying the animal’s death, prompting Noem to defend hunting as a source of food and a responsibility connected to wildlife stewardship.

Noem said the hunt was conducted with friends and that the meat would feed her family and others. The backlash also revived scrutiny of her past admission that she killed her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, which she defended by citing the animal’s aggression and South Dakota law; the elk image was initially hidden behind Instagram’s sensitive-content warning.