Kristi Noem Faces Backlash Over $60K Rolex During El Salvador Prison Visit

The Homeland Security Secretary's immigration deterrence campaign is overshadowed by scrutiny of her financial transparency and optics of her actions.

Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, appeared to wear a $60,000 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona during her visit to the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador on March 26, 2025.
The visit aimed to deter undocumented immigrants by showcasing the high-security prison, a key part of El Salvador's crackdown on violent drug cartels.
Public discourse has shifted to questions about how Noem, on a government salary, could afford the luxury watch, with her financial transparency coming under scrutiny.
The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to inquiries about the watch or the broader controversy surrounding the visit.
Noem’s actions have drawn criticism for undermining the intended messaging of her immigration enforcement campaign, with the optics of her visit dominating public attention.