Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem raised eyebrows during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday when she claimed that President Donald Trump was responsible for this year's slow hurricane season.
"Mr. President, you made it through hurricane season without a hurricane," Noem said. "You kept the hurricanes away."
The comment raised eyebrows among political analysts and observers. Not only do they harken back to Trump's first term, when he used a Sharpie to correct a projected hurricane path, but the comments also seemed to bolster criticisms about the sycophancy of Trump's second cabinet.
Jonathan Chait, a staff writer for The Atlantic, posted on X that Noem's comments were likely a "joke."
"These meetings have so many earnest sycophantic statements, this isn't one of them," Chait wrote.
Other analysts and observers piled on, calling the moment "embarrassing" and likening it to a Saturday Night Live skit.
"Sick stuff," political strategist Chris Jackson posted on X.
"Even their jokes are not really jokes," Jon Ralston, CEO of The Nevada Independent, posted on X.
"He kept the hurricanes away?" Democratic strategist Leslie Marshall quizically asked in a post on X.
"God this is so embarrassing," Rep. Yassamin Anasari (D-AZ) posted on X.
"This is an SNL skit right?" lawyer Aaron Parnas asked on X.
Noem: You made it through the hurricane season without a hurricane—you kept the hurricanes away. We appreciate that. pic.twitter.com/Lh2nLj2eBc
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 2, 2025