EXCLUSIVE — The Democratic National Committee is adding Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) to its list of targets, branding her former President Donald Trump’s “newest endorser” as speculation of an announcement grows before the South Dakota Republican Party’s Monumental Leaders Rally on Friday.

In a press release set to go out Friday evening, the DNC will introduce recipients to Noem as “the latest MAGA extremist to endorse Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential run.”

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DNC spokeswoman Rhyan Lake said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner, “Of course Donald Trump’s first campaign trip in weeks is to visit South Dakota, ground zero for Trump’s anti-abortion agenda, where the governor thinks 10-year-old rape victims should be forced to give birth.”

Noem plans to respond to the DNC and similar criticisms in her speech on Friday. In an excerpt from her prepared remarks shared with the Washington Examiner, she says, “Yes — I will be attacked for speaking the truth to you all tonight. Yes, I expect Joe Biden, the other candidates, their political operatives, and the media will perpetuate ugly, hateful misinformation in an attempt to destroy me and my family because of my opinions. It’s nothing new. I’m getting used to it, honestly.”

In the statement, which will go out to Democrats across the country on Friday evening, Lake added, “Kristi Noem’s endorsement is also no surprise as she has spent her days in Congress and the governorship as one of the most right-wing elected officials in the country, pushing the hallmarks of the MAGA agenda — including stripping away Americans’ freedoms, supporting an effort to end Medicare as we know it, giving handouts to the ultra-wealthy, and making it easier for criminals to carry guns.”

“Trump might not venture out to campaign much these days, but every time he does, he reminds Americans just how extreme he is — and today is no different,” she said.

The SDGOP rally will take place in Rapid City at 7:30 p.m. EDT. Both Trump and Noem are featured as special guests at the event. The rally will be attended by nearly 7,000 people, and Trump’s remarks will be broadcast nationwide.

“Our Monumental Leaders rally will be a record shattering event for the SDGOP, and we are proud to host President Donald J. Trump,” SDGOP Chairman John Wiik said recently, announcing extra tickets to the event. “As the front runner in the Republican Presidential Primary, President Trump will be joining us in South Dakota with Governor Kristi Noem. We are overwhelmed by the excitement.”

The DNC mainly spends time issuing statements and levying attacks on candidates for the Republican nomination for president in 2024. The statement hitting Noem comes as the likelihood increases of her becoming Trump’s running mate or being involved with his administration, if he does receive the nomination.

Several reports have claimed Noem will be issuing an endorsement for Trump’s 2024 presidential run during the event on Friday. Before that, the move had already been speculated as Trump’s visit to the state, his first since Independence Day in 2020, is unusual for a presidential campaign. Further, South Dakota’s entire Senate delegation has endorsed his opponent Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC). For those reasons, people wondered if there might be more to the visit.

Noem has additionally held out against endorsing any other candidates, previously saying no one else but Trump had a “path for victory” in the contest. She also ruled out her own presidential run, which had been on the table initially, according to a source close to the South Dakota governor.

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Noem is being eyed as a potential running mate for Trump, and while a source close to the former president said he isn’t focused on a vice presidential pick right now, they said Noem would certainly be a contender. As for whether she would be receptive to the offer, Noem has said she would “of course” consider it.

If Trump enlisted the South Dakota Republican as his running mate in 2024, it would put him on relatively even footing with President Joe Biden, who also has a much younger woman on the ticket. This is needed for both men, Biden at 80 and Trump at 77, as the public grows increasingly concerned about their ability to serve another four-year term effectively.