Neighbors of Kristi Noem and her husband, Bryon Noem, find it hard to believe he cross-dresses.

Kevin Ruseink, a cattle rancher in North Dakota, told The New York Times the image ā€œMust be A.I. ā€

ā€œI grew up playing ball with Bryon,ā€ he continued. ā€œI’ve never known him to be part of stuff like that. I don’t believe that at all.ā€

Ruseink was referring to an article bythe Daily Mailwhich alleged Bryon Noem leads a double life.

This includes wearing fake breasts and speaking to fetish models online. The outlet included photos they said were of Bryon Noem wearing leggings and false breasts, sent in a messaging app.

Other North Dakota neighbors felt sympathy for the husband of the former secretary of Homeland Security.

Nancy Turbak, a former Democratic state senator, said, ā€œI am sorry that Bryon is now the subject of so much attention himself, and for any embarrassment he’s experiencing.ā€

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ā€œHe never asked for the public life in the first place, and I know him to be a kind and decent man. I wish he were not going through this,ā€ she said.

Another neighbor, Brad Johnson, a conservationist and newspaper columnist, said, ā€œPeople know Bryon as the supportive husband who worked to maintain a normal family life as Kristi’s profile skyrocketed.ā€

ā€œIt shows the price of power and fame is very high. But, Kristi invited this type of coverage by her actions at the Department of Homeland Security,ā€ Johnson said.

A representative for Kristi Noem told the New York Post l she is ā€œdevastated,ā€ and that the family has been ā€œblindsided.ā€

Kristi Noem and Bryon Noem have been married since 1992, and they have three children.

President Donald Trump also weighed in on the scandal.

ā€œThey confirmed it? Wow, well, I feel badly for the family if that’s the case, that’s too bad. I haven’t seen anything. I don’t know anything about it. That’s too bad, but I just know nothing about it,ā€ he told the Daily Mail.