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“I love my new family at Smile Texas! This video says it all and I’m so grateful to them for fixing my smile,” she wrote in a video shared on several social media platforms. The caption of the post says:
It could be a testimonial from one of our SmileTexas patients. Celebrity chefs, influencers, pageant contestants, professional athletes, and reality stars have all appeared in the practice’s promotional content.
But the latest patient to testify was Kristi L. Noem, the Republican governor of South Dakota, who is considered former President Donald Trump’s running mate in 2024.
“This kind leading lady @govkristinoem just received a beautiful executive, feminine smile here at Smile Texas,” Brett Davis, the dentist who treated Noem, wrote in an Instagram post. I wrote it in “I’ll post later about how we achieved this smile on this kind, gentle, and brave patriot!”
The video, posted to the governor’s social media accounts last week, has led to a storm of criticism, a lawsuit, and the possibility of an ethics investigation into whether she participated in private advertising or used state resources. caused sex.
Two of Noem’s spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment.
The practice, located more than 1,000 miles from the South Dakota governor’s mansion in Pierre, regularly works with influencer-type people, many of whom come from out of state to get their smiles fixed.
We focus on cosmetic dentistry and dental implants and boast an in-house pianist and dedicated photography studio. We also promote travel to clinics by listing local accommodations and taxi services on our website.
Federal Election Commission data shows that two dentists, including Davis, who is pictured with Nomu, have donated over the years to support Republican candidates, including Trump. Became.
Noem’s promotion of medical tourism without adequate disclosure in ad captions and videos is the subject of a recent lawsuit from the nonprofit group Travelers United. It is unclear whether Noem received any compensation for the services she received in Texas.
Lauren Wolf, an attorney with Travelers United who has pursued other cases related to travel influencers, said the governor “if he could prove it with basic receipts…” If she paid for these services in full, we would be happy to dismiss the case.”
Alexandra Roberts, a professor at Northeastern University School of Law, said the Federal Trade Commission is actively sending messages to social media influencers “about their obligation to disclose all kinds of material interests.”
“They know everything about any hashtag.” [to use] And where the hashtag goes,” she said. “And they sent out a ton of warning letters to both influencers and the companies that pay them.”
Efforts have also begun at the South Dakota State Capitol to launch an investigation into the governor’s travels.
Democratic Sen. Reynold Nesiba of South Dakota asked the Republican co-chairs of the House Government Management and Audit Committee to put the issue on the agenda for their next meeting in July.
Nesiba said she has questions about whether public funds were used for the trip to Texas. He also questioned whether the trip was an attempt to appeal to Trump, who has publicly praised allies who look like “main figures.”
“It seems like a very well-timed political stunt to raise her national profile and draw attention to the former president. All of this seems like a very well-timed political stunt to increase her national profile and draw attention to the former president. It looks and feels like a move,” Nesiba said.
But he said there was mixed interest among committee members in pursuing the issue.
This is not the first time the committee has been asked to investigate Noem’s conduct while in office.
The committee was responsible for a legislative report that revealed that Noem’s daughter received preferential treatment when she applied for a real estate appraiser’s license in 2020.
In addition to raising questions about the use of public funds, Nesiba said the governor’s visit to Texas for dental treatment contrasts with her efforts to attract workers to South Dakota. He said that. Indicates that they are employed in the state.
“One of the jobs she’s pretending to be is a dental hygienist, and she’s telling people to come to South Dakota because there’s a dental opening. And here she is going to Texas to do dental work. I just think it was disappointing,” Neciba said, adding that dentists in South Dakota have expressed outrage over Noem’s Texas video.
Since posting the SmileTexas video, the governor has posted two iPhone-style videos to his social media accounts. Promoting Business in South Dakota.
At an orthodontic shop in Rapid City, with bags in hands and employees on either side, the governor said the store made inserts for her new shoes, adding: I’m going to be like the Bionic Woman now. ”
Noem says as she poses with Spearfish coffee shop owners. “This coffee shop is great. …You’ll have fun. They love America.”
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