That’s quite the walkup song.
When politicians are on the campaign trail we often see them select entrance songs that reflect the theme of their campaign, whether that’s Donald Trump using Lee Greenwood’s classic “God Bless the USA” or Kamala Harris walking out to “Freedom” by Beyoncé.
But once they get into office, you don’t really see politicians having their own walkup songs very often…although it seems like Kristi Noem may have just found hers.
A former member of the United States House of Representatives and governor of South Dakota, Noem was recently confirmed as President Trump’s choice for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. And today, she met with her department for the first time, delivering an address to DHS employees this afternoon.
And after being introduced, the 53-year old mother of three took to the podium with her new entrance song: “One Hot Mama” by Trace Adkins.
.@Sec_Noem walks to speak to DHS staff to the tune of @TraceAdkins “One Hot Mama.” pic.twitter.com/8NV8Goj78y
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 28, 2025
Hey, just saying, it fits…I’ll leave it at that.
Noem was confirmed by the Senate over the weekend by a vote of 59-34, and was sworn in on Saturday by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Since then, the new Homeland Security Secretary has spent time out in the streets with the men and women of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as they conduct operations to arrest illegal immigrants.
7 AM in NYC. Getting the dirt bags off the streets. pic.twitter.com/AlDD819K89
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 28, 2025
Say what you will, but these next four years are going to be nothing if not entertaining.
Of course Trace Adkins is well known for his love of his country, and it’s not the first time that his music has served as the soundtrack for Republicans. In 2012, Adkins performed at the Republican National Convention in support of then-presidential nominee Mitt Romney, and in 2016 he performed the national anthem at the RNC when President Trump was nominated during his first presidential run.
While he didn’t perform at the 2024 GOP convention, Adkins did serve as the entertainment for the welcome party ahead of this year’s event in Milwaukee as delegates, media and other partners arrived for the convention.
And his connection to Trump actually goes back farther than the president’s first campaign. Adkins was a contestant on The Celebrity Apprentice back in 2013, which was of course hosted by Donald Trump, in which the contestants competed for the title of “Best Business Brain” by raising money that would ultimately be donated to charity.
Adkins didn’t win, but came in second to eventual champion Piers Morgan. And apparently the two got along well enough that Adkins endorsed Trump during his presidential campaign.
I’m sure Adkins has no problem with Noem using his song as her entrance music, which is a good thing because it appears she’s a big Trace Adkins fan: Along with “One Hot Mama,” several more of the singer’s hits were playing throughout the room before the event got started, including songs like “Songs About Me,” “Chrome” and “Swing Batter Batter.”
Hey, maybe “One Hot Mama” was just the next song up on the playlist and not an intentional choice for Noem’s walkup music. But it seems like she’s going to have to stick with it now.
Kristi coming to a press conference to Trace Adkins’ One Hot Mama!! Love it!!
— Bookmdanno64 (@Bookmdannoman64) January 28, 2025