During her recent trip to the infamous Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) in El Salvador, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem became a topic of heated discussions online due to her opulent fashion choice. While dressed in a simple white long-sleeve top, gray slacks, and a baseball cap emblazoned with “Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” her flashy gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona—worth approximately $50,000—stole the spotlight.
This visit coincided with a controversial time for the Trump administration as hundreds of Venezuelan deportations were underway; the U.S. Court of Appeals had just denied government efforts to restart these deportations. Meanwhile, the Trump team has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court to allow the campaign to go ahead.
The Cecot facility, which opened in 2023, is recognized for its role in a mass incarceration strategy prioritized by El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Human rights organizations have been vocal critics of this approach to combating gang violence. Against this backdrop, Noem’s display of wealth was particularly jarring as she filmed a video in front of prisoners packed in tight quarters behind bars.
The bold fashion choice attracted immediate backlash across social media platforms, with users questioning the appropriateness of flaunting such an expensive watch during visits to a facility infamous for its harsh conditions. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs under homeland security, defended Noem by stating that the watch was purchased using the proceeds from her books, intended as a precious item to be handed down to her children, although she did not clarify why it was chosen for this particular visit.
Noem's Rolex is part of a prestigious line that has been renowned since its introduction in 1963, yet its presence at Cecot raised uncomfortable questions regarding priorities and perceptions of sensitivity in politically charged circumstances.
