South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem endorsed former President Donald Trump in her home state Friday evening during a campaign rally featuring her and headlined by Trump, taking place in Monument arena with thousands in attendance.

\"It is my honor to present to you the man in the arena,\" Noem said. \"He is a man of significance. He is the leader, the fighter, that our country needs. He has my full and complete endorsement for President of the United States of America. I will do everything in my power to help him win to save this great country.\"

\"South
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem welcomes former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S. September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
>

Her endorsement further fuels speculation she could one day be Trump's vice presidential pick if he wins the 2024 Republican nomination.

Noem, who won reelection in 2022, entered the national spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic when she refused to enact statewide mask mandates or force businesses to close, leaving the power up to the counties and cities to enforce those restrictions.

\"PHOTO:
Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
PHOTO: Former US president and 2024 Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives to speak during the South Dakota Republican Party's Monumental Leaders rally in Rapid City, South Dakota, September 8, 2023. (
>

Since then, she has launched a nationwide workforce recruitment campaign to fill thousands of jobs in the state, starring in ads where she portrayed occupations like a plumber, dentist and electrician as she touted the state's acceptance of most out-of-state occupational licenses, apprenticeships -- and with no state income tax.

Her office claims more than 6,000 people have applied to move to the state since she launched the initiative in June.

A source familiar with the matter called Noem's endorsement \"an incredibly smart decision,\" arguing that it would solidify her name on the shortlist of potential vice presidential candidates.

\"PHOTO:
The Washington Post via Getty Images
PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks with South Dakota Gov.-elect Kristi Noem during a meeting with Governors-Elect in the Cabinet Room at White House, Dec. 13, 2018.
>

Noem told Fox News last month that if Trump were to pick her for vice president, she would \"consider it.\"

\"I think everybody should consider it,\" she told Sean Hannity. \"If President Trump is going to be back in the White House, I do all I can to help him be successful.\"

Observers say that other names floating around as potential vice presidential picks for Trump include Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and former TV news anchor and Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake.

\"PHOTO:
Getty Images
PHOTO: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, March 3, 2023, in National Harbor, Md. Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake after casting her ballot, Nov. 8, 2022, in Phoenix.
>

Despite the chatter around the so-called \"veepstakes,\" Trump has signaled he doesn't expect to name a running mate early despite the legal issues he faces surrounding the 91 felony counts across four criminal cases he is charged in.

He has pleaded not guilty and denies all wrongdoing.

\"No, I don't think so. I think I'll go through the process,\" Trump said to radio host Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday.

\"There's never been a vice president that got a president elected, because it doesn't work that way. It sounds good and everything,\" he said, \"but the president gets himself elected.\"

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/Politics/noem-expected-endorse-trump-south-dakota-visit-friday/story?id=103001995","legacySlug":"/news/story/noem-expected-endorse-trump-south-dakota-visit-friday-103001995","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"01:50","publishDate":"09-09-2023","updatedTime":"09:57","updatedDate":"09-11-2023","socialImage":{"alt":"Former US president and 2024 Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives to speak during the South Dakota Republican Party's Monumental Leaders rally at the Ice Arena at the Monument in Rapid City, South Dakota, September 8, 2023. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)","credit":"Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/Trump-getty-sg-9_hpMain_20230908-214349_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"9/9/2023 01:50:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":103001995,"headline":"Kristi Noem endorses Trump ","mediaAssetTitle":"*JIC* NOEM ENDORSES TRUMP IN SOUTH DAKOTA","description":"Further fueling speculation the GOP governor could become Trump's VP pick.","duration":"2:15","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2023/09/230909_gma_scott_0816_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["133741861","133707237","133144263"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"June 10, 2026","headline":"NASA unveils Artemis III crew","section":"News","slug":"/video/133741861","id":"133741861","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: NASA unveils Artemis III crew","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260610_gma_benitez_artemis_715_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: NASA unveils Artemis III crew","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260610_gma_benitez_artemis_715_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260610_gma_benitez_artemis_715_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260610_gma_benitez_artemis_715_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260610_gma_benitez_artemis_715_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260610_gma_benitez_artemis_715_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260610_gma_benitez_artemis_715_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260610_gma_benitez_artemis_715_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260610_gma_benitez_artemis_715_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260610_gma_benitez_artemis_715_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"June 9, 2026","headline":"Flash flood threat as dangerous weather on the move","section":"News","slug":"/video/133707237","id":"133707237","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Flash flood threat as dangerous weather on the move","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260609_gma_zee_weather1_707_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Flash flood threat as dangerous weather on the move","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260609_gma_zee_weather1_707_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260609_gma_zee_weather1_707_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260609_gma_zee_weather1_707_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260609_gma_zee_weather1_707_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260609_gma_zee_weather1_707_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260609_gma_zee_weather1_707_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260609_gma_zee_weather1_707_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260609_gma_zee_weather1_707_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260609_gma_zee_weather1_707_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"May 20, 2026","headline":"Fashion mogul’s son arrested in father’s fatal fall","section":"News","slug":"/video/133144263","id":"133144263","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Fashion mogul’s son arrested in father’s fatal fall","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260520_gma_ally_fall3_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Fashion mogul’s son arrested in father’s fatal fall","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260520_gma_ally_fall3_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260520_gma_ally_fall3_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260520_gma_ally_fall3_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260520_gma_ally_fall3_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260520_gma_ally_fall3_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260520_gma_ally_fall3_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260520_gma_ally_fall3_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260520_gma_ally_fall3_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260520_gma_ally_fall3_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"Kristi Noem endorses Trump ","description":"Further fueling speculation the GOP governor could become Trump's VP pick.","duration":"2:15","uploadDate":"09-09-2023","publication":"09-09-2023","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2023/09/230909_gma_scott_0816_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2023/09/230909_gma_scott_0816_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/noem-expected-endorse-trump-south-dakota-visit-friday-103001995"}},"playlist":[{"id":"134130187","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"134145709","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"134134667","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"134099631","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"134041491","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"134033809","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"78356537","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133929295","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133958398","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133882828","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133810954","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133779647","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133810835","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133749799","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133777519","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133748258","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133730535","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133712423","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133694181","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"133688738","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"Kristi Noem endorses Trump ","pubTime":"21:50","pubDate":"09-08-2023","modTime":"05:57","modDate":"09-11-2023","taxonomyTags":"none","id":103001995,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"Kristi Noem endorses Trump ","mediaAssetTitle":"*JIC* NOEM ENDORSES TRUMP IN SOUTH DAKOTA","videoId":103001995,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/noem-expected-endorse-trump-south-dakota-visit-friday-103001995"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/103001995","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/103001995","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};