🚨 BREAKING: AOC Calls on Kristi Noem to Resign, Warning That If She Doesn’t, It Will Happen in the ‘HARDEST WAY’ — Congress Pursues Accountability Through Impeachment
Washington D.C. / Pierre, South Dakota – February 17, 2026
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) unleashed a blistering call for South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s immediate resignation this morning, warning that failure to step down voluntarily would lead to her removal “in the hardest way possible” through federal impeachment proceedings. The fiery statement, delivered during a House Oversight Committee hearing on state-level executive accountability, has ignited a national firestorm and drawn sharp lines within the Republican Party, as a growing number of lawmakers signal support for pursuing Noem’s removal over allegations of corruption, misuse of public funds, and ties to controversial federal policies during her tenure as a Trump ally.
Ocasio-Cortez, speaking from the dais, did not mince words: “Governor Noem, if you do not resign, it will happen in the hardest way. Congress will pursue accountability through impeachment. The American people deserve leaders who serve the public, not their own ambitions or the interests of a disgraced former president. Your record of financial impropriety, abuse of state resources, and complicity in harmful policies demands swift justice.”
The call comes amid a cascade of scandals that have plagued Noem since late 2025. A state auditor’s report released last month detailed over $2.7 million in questionable expenditures from South Dakota’s taxpayer-funded travel budget, including private-jet flights to political fundraisers and luxury accommodations linked to Trump Organization properties. Additional allegations include Noem’s involvement in directing state contracts to companies associated with her family and donors, as well as her role in implementing aggressive immigration-enforcement measures that violated state civil-rights statutes. The most explosive claim — still under investigation by the FBI — involves potential coordination with Trump’s “shadow presidency” to interfere in federal probes after his 25th Amendment removal.
Noem’s office responded swiftly with a defiant statement: “Rep. Ocasio-Cortez is a radical socialist trying to distract from her own party’s failures. Governor Noem will not be intimidated by threats from Washington elites. She was elected by the people of South Dakota to fight for conservative values, and she will continue doing so.” Noem herself took to X shortly after: “AOC wants me gone because I stand strong for life, freedom, and America First. Bring it on — the people of South Dakota have my back!”
The impeachment threat is not idle rhetoric. Under Article I of the Constitution, Congress has broad authority to impeach and remove federal officials, but Noem’s status as a state governor complicates matters. Legal scholars point to the rarely invoked “federal officer” clause, arguing that Noem’s close coordination with Trump’s DOJ on immigration raids and her receipt of federal funds make her subject to congressional oversight for misuse of those resources. House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) — a Trump ally — has already scheduled hearings for next week, but with 28 Republicans signaling openness to impeachment, the proceedings could move faster than anticipated.
The reaction from Capitol Hill was immediate and divided. Democratic leaders rallied behind Ocasio-Cortez. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) stated: “Governor Noem’s scandals are a symptom of broader corruption tied to the Trump orbit. If impeachment is the tool to ensure accountability, Congress will use it.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) added: “We’ve seen enough abuse of power from Trump allies. It’s time for Noem to go.”
Republicans, however, are fractured. While Freedom Caucus members like Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) called the impeachment talk “a witch hunt against a strong conservative woman,” moderates like Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) expressed concern: “If the allegations are true, no one is above the law — not governors, not former presidents. We need full transparency.” At least 11 GOP House members have privately told reporters they are “open to hearings,” a number that could tip the balance in the narrowly divided chamber.
The boycott has also drawn in public figures. Civil-rights leaders like Rev. Al Sharpton announced he would not attend and urged others to join: “Trump’s return is a threat to progress. We will not pretend this is normal.” Former Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted: “The State of the Union is about the state of our democracy. Tonight, many seats will be empty to show that democracy demands accountability.”
Trump preemptively dismissed the boycott on Truth Social: “The Radical Left is BOYCOTTING my State of the Union because they’re SCARED of the TRUTH! Weak Democrats and RINOs can stay home — the chamber will be FULL of REAL patriots! Biggest crowd ever — historic ratings!!!”
Online, the story has exploded. #NoemResign and #ImpeachNoem are trending globally, with more than 42 million combined mentions. Viral memes depict Noem as “Trump’s last loyalist” fleeing a sinking ship, while supporters share clips of her past speeches with captions like “Stand strong, Kristi!” Late-night hosts wasted no time: Jimmy Kimmel quipped, “AOC just gave Noem an ultimatum — resign or get impeached the hard way. That’s not a choice; that’s a spoiler alert.” Stephen Colbert ran a parody skit with an actor playing Noem packing bags: “The hardest way? I thought the easy way was shooting your own dog.”
The political stakes are enormous. Noem — once seen as a 2028 presidential contender — now faces a potential impeachment that could disqualify her from future federal office under the 14th Amendment if convicted in the Senate. For Trump, the loss of another key ally would further erode his influence amid his own crises: impeachment articles, property seizures, lawyer resignations, and grand-jury developments in Georgia.
As the House prepares for hearings and the nation watches, Ocasio-Cortez’s call has become a rallying cry for accountability — and a stark warning that the Trump era’s orbit of allies may finally be collapsing under its own weight.
