The French government is disputing a portion of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s book that describes a canceled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The book, which has already had a passage removed about unverified allegations that the Republican governor met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, says a planned meeting between Noem and Macron last year was canceled after he allegedly did “pro-Hamas” comments.
“While in Paris, I was scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron,” Noem wrote in her book “No Going Back.” “However, the day before we met, he made what I considered a very pro-Hamas and anti-Israel comment to the press. So I decided to cancel.”
A representative from the Élysée Palace disputed Noem’s account, saying there is no record of a scheduled meeting, nor was there an invitation extended to her.
When reached for comment on Friday, a spokesperson for Noem said that “the governor was invited to sit in President Macron’s box for the Armistice Day Parade at the Arc de Triomphe.”
“Following her anti-Israel comments, she chose to cancel,” Ian Fury, the governor’s head of communications, said in a statement, adding that Macron “also did not attend.”
Noem was in Paris in November 2023 to speak at the Worldwide Freedom Initiative conference.
She did not specify in her book what Macron’s comments were. When asked for details, Noem’s office on Friday pointed to Macron’s comments urgenting Israel stop bombing Gaza and call for a ceasefire. Macron also condemned Hamas, as well as its October 7 attack on Israel, and recognized “Israel’s right to protect itself and react.”
The contested account is the latest in a series of controversies sparked by Noem’s book.
The second-term governor, who is seen as a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump, wrote that she met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but later said she “should not have put that anecdote in the book.” . Her editor said the passage would be removed, but Noem dodged in interviews whether she actually met with Kim.
She also described in her book how she shot and killed her family’s 14-month-old dog. Noem repeatedly defended her actions, citing what she said was the dog’s aggression and noting that he was a “working dog” and “not a puppy.”
Trump responded to the backlash against Noem in an interview this week.
“She’s had a rough few days,” he said. Spectrum 1 Wisconsin News. “I will say this.”
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
