Kristi Noem’s ultra-expensive hair extensions have frequently made her the internet’s favorite punching bag. The former DHS secretary prompted endless controversies when it became known that she allegedly spent $4,000 on her hair and makeup.
More specifically, her hair extensions cost roughly $1,000 to $3,000 per session. While there had been numerous political missteps by Noem during her time in the department, it was the price point that still left the public baffled. It was assumed that citizens’ hard-earned money, in the form of taxes and tariffs, was used for this purpose.
Didn’t Kristi Noem have to hand in all her hair extensions when she was fired as Secretary of Homeland Security? Maybe that’s the source.
— Alan P. Balutis (@AlanBalutis) March 17, 2026
Kristi Noem still isn’t the only one within the MAGA fraternity who has been listed for spending exorbitant amounts at the salon. Back in 2020, it was Donald Trump in the hot seat when news of his tax scandal surfaced. A New York Times report at the time had disclosed that several salon visits were also among the reasons behind his tax deductions.
During the filming of his show, The Apprentice, the report claimed that Trump spent about $1,000 per episode for hair and makeup. While the U.S. president had claimed that he only trusted his wife to cut his hair, his tax records revealed a contrast.
That’s not all. Manhattan-based hair and makeup artist Sharon Sinclair had reportedly been paid about $72,243 for her services by Trump Productions between 2004 and 2007. The large volume of transactions, as per the report, indicated that Trump had indeed spent it on hair and makeup.
A spokesperson for The New York Times reached out to former network executives of The Apprentice for further details. This was regarding the visible discrepancy between the company’s tax deductions and Trump’s actual contract for the show with NBC. One of the executives, however, suggested that it seemed unusual for Donald Trump to pay those hair and makeup bills out of his own pocket rather than being reimbursed.
The executive recalled, “I can’t think of any circumstances in which Trump would have paid those costs out of his own pocket and not be reimbursed.” However, the individual added that this kind of arrangement, where personal costs are covered by production companies, is very common for well-known figures in the entertainment industry.
Is Donald Trump not the biggest Queen ever? Obsessed about how his hair looks, slathered in makeup and dedicating the vast majority of his time to decorating his house in the most Marie Antoinette way possible. https://t.co/rbvUSQxNh9
— Ivonne Rovira (@IvonneRovira) March 24, 2026
Tax experts deemed that the whole issue could not be dismissed as a non-deductible personal expense. They argued that it would remain illegal and part of criminal tax fraud if Donald Trump had received reimbursement from the production company.
By 2022, two entities within the Trump Organization were found guilty of tax fraud. They aided several executives in avoiding taxes on luxury perks. However, at that point, Trump defended himself against the accusations and laid the blame on his company’s former CFO, Allen Weisselberg. He claimed that the latter had worked alone and orchestrated the scheme single-handedly.
All in all, whether Kristi Noem’s controversial hair extensions or Donald Trump’s blond hair and makeup choices, scandals over personal expenses are not uncommon within MAGA circles.
