South Dakota governor praises First Lady’s speech, says ‘no mother in this country’ wants to raise children in Democratic-led cities

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) on Wednesday lauded first lady Melania Trump’s keynote speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC), adding “no mother in this country” wants to raise children in Democratic-led cities.

Noem told Fox News’s “America’s Newsroom” host Sandra Smith that the president’s wife delivered a “powerful” speech showcasing “her mother’s heart” Tuesday night and exemplified how the president respects women.

Following the first lady’s speech, President Trump walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek before the two walked inside the White House hand-in-hand.

“I think what’s incredibly important is that mothers get up every single day and look at the life they want for their children and their grandchildren in the future and it is not found in these Democrat-led cities,” said Noem, a mother of three.

The GOP governor who hosted Trump for an Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore earlier this summer said Wednesday the president needs to be reelected because the alternative option would lead to violence and disorder.

She referenced the recent civil unrest seen in cities such as Portland, Ore., Chicago and Kenosha, Wis., which have experienced persistent protests against racial injustice, with periodic looting and vandalism that activists often dissociate from the broader Black Lives Matter movement.

In May, the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked massive protests in cities across the nation, and Portland has seen nightly protests downtown in the months since the incident.

At Tuesday’s Republican convention, the night began with an opening prayer for Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old Black man who was shot at least seven times in the back by police in Kenosha on Sunday.

“I would encourage everybody to see the clear contrast in what is being put out by both parties and really look at who is best prepared to lead this country,” said Noem. “And again, it’s President Trump because he has already proven himself during these last four years.”

Noem is slated to speak Wednesday night at the Republican convention, which will be themed “The Land of Heroes.”