Kristi Noem tells Americans fearing attack by Iran to 'be grateful'

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Americans fearing an attack by Iran should "be grateful."

As Iran was attacking a U.S. base in Qatar, Noem was asked about her biggest concern regarding the safety of Americans.

"My responsibility is to secure the homeland and to do all I can to make sure that we're identifying threats that may be here, what we can do to get in front of them before anything could happen to the population that live here in the United States, but also to work with our local governors and law enforcement to make sure that they recognize potential threats or suspicious activities," Noem opined.

"We recognize that as tensions escalate, that means that there could be more potential for threats here at home."

"And ahead of events like July 4th, is there a particular concern ahead of future events like that?" one reporter wondered.

"You know, there's been concerns since I took this job," Noem admitted.

"Secretary, what's your message to Americans who are seeing what's going on overseas and are concerned about an attack in the homeland?" another reporter asked. "What is your message to them?"

"You know what?" Noem replied. "I would tell the people that live in this country is to be grateful that they woke up this morning in the United States of America."

"We, because we woke up here, are more blessed than 99 percent of the people in the world because we live in a country where freedom and liberty is embraced, and that's what our president was protecting by going after specific nuclear sites in Iran," she added.

Watch the video below from C-SPAN.