ICE Barbie ripped for Old West cosplay: ‘Stop dressing for the camera and start answering for the dead’

Democrats, late-night hosts, and critics across social media have mocked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem’s cowboy hat and Western-style outfit worn during remarks about a fatal ICE shooting, accusing her of staging photo-ops instead of providing accountability.

After her remarks, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) blasted Noem during a House hearing, displaying a photo of her in an oversized hat. “Is she hiding her face like her ICE agents now?” Moskowitz asked, referring to concerns about transparency in ICE operations.

He went on to question the agency’s massive budget, saying, “By the way — is this what the $800 billion went to? Every day we see her after some new tragedy, she’s wearing a different outfit with a different hat. She looks ridiculous.”

Moskowitz escalated his criticism beyond appearances, accusing Noem of damaging U.S. credibility and failing at her post. “She’s not just an embarrassment to the country, she’s an embarrassment to you and the president,” he said, concluding that “she deserves to be removed from her job, and if not impeached.”

The incident behind the backlash

Moskowitz’s remarks followed Noem’s public response to the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. At a press event addressing the incident, Noem wore a large cowboy hat while defending the agent involved. She described the victim as a “domestic terrorist,” claiming the agent acted in self-defense, disputed by local officials and critics citing video evidence, per Forbes.

Coverage of the event quickly shifted from the substance of Noem’s claims to her appearance, fueling accusations that the secretary routinely opts for dramatic visuals — what critics deride as “cosplay” — when responding to crises involving immigration enforcement. One comment read in part, ” … if your job is ‘public safety,’ stop dressing for the camera and start answering for the dead.”

This is not the first time Noem’s attire has drawn ridicule. Since becoming a prominent national figure, she has frequently appeared in themed outfits — including aviation gear, law-enforcement-style apparel, and Western wear — often while announcing enforcement actions or reacting to tragedies.

Colbert’s critique

That pattern has made her a recurring target in political satire. On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert mocked Noem’s oversized cowboy hat during a segment about the ICE shooting, joking that he “couldn’t hear you lying over your hat.” Colbert escalated the gag by wearing an even larger hat on air to lampoon what he framed as political theater.

Supporters of Noem argue the criticism is superficial and gendered, noting that Western attire reflects her South Dakota background and that opponents are avoiding debate over immigration policy by focusing on aesthetics. Conservative media outlets have dismissed the mockery as unserious and politically motivated.