Kristi Noem 'unequivocally' denies plans to step down as governor for top NRA role: report

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem had been named a top contender for Donald Trump's running mate until an excerpt from her book revealed last month that she shot and killed her own dog.

According to an Axios report Monday, the GOP leader may not be hired by the ex-president, but she could potentially take a top position with the National Rifle Association.

Two sources told the news outlet that Noem "pitched herself" for a role with the organization "as early as last fall."

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Additionally, one source with knowledge of Noem's talk with ex-NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre said the GOP leader "offered to step down early as governor for the role."

Since The Guardian reported on the Republican governor's dog incident, she has doubled down on the book excerpt, writing via X: "I can understand why some people are upset about a 20 year old story of Cricket, one of the working dogs at our ranch, in my upcoming book — No Going Back."

Noem added, "The book is filled with many honest stories of my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions, and lessons learned. The fact is, South Dakota law states that dogs who attack and kill livestock can be put down. Given that Cricket had shown aggressive behavior toward people by biting them, I decided what I did.”

Axios reports Noem spokesperson Ian Fury "'unequivocally' denied that the governor had a conversation with LaPierre."

READ MORE: 'She’s really a terrible person': South Dakotans weigh in on Kristi Noem’s latest flub

Fury said, "She loves her job as Governor of South Dakota."