South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be special guest at Donald Trump's Rapid City rally

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will be a special guest when former President Donald Trump makes his return to the Rushmore state in September for the Monumental Leaders Rally.

It's the first time in three years that Trump has returned in-person to Rapid City. The Monumental Leaders Rally is hosted by the South Dakota Republican Party and is scheduled to take place at Ice Arena on September 8 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $25.

More: Former President Donald Trump set to visit Black Hills for GOP rally in September

Noem told reporters Thursday that she supported GOP Chairman John Wiik in securing the former president as a speaker.

"I think there was a little follow up with me to just see if that was something I would support," Noem said. "I talked to [Trump] directly two days ago so we've been talking."

Noem has been a close ally of Trump for a number of years. She invited him to South Dakota in 2020 to give a Fourth of July speech at Mount Rushmore, where down the road there were protests in Keystone over his visit. Trump also helped fundraise for Noem during her first run for governor in 2018 and supported her in her re-election campaign.

There's also speculation that Noem is on Trump's short list as a vice president contender as he continues to lead the 2024 Republican Presidential primary field. It appears unlikely Noem will launch her own GOP presidential primary campaign.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Gov. Kristi Noem to be at Trump's Rapid City rally in September