“Big government” conservatism has long been associated with the Bush, McCain, Romney, Ryan etc.(RINO) political class.
Nothing to do with the size of military.
That’s what Noem was taking a stand against in her statement.
“…conservatives we are called to limit the power & size of government. Govt mandates of any kind are not a tool that any America First Conservative would or should consider. We should not be in the business of forcing behavior of any kind on to the people.”
The power of government is in part determined by its military strength and size.
Furthermore governor agencies like CPB, ICE, The Bureau of Consumer Protection, the SEC, the Federal Trade Commission, the FBI (and plenty others) all fall outside the realm of military “defense”, “infrastructure”, or “courts”. Should we eliminate those agencies to “limit the fuck” outta government?
She also clearly states government shouldn’t be of any kind when we know the government should be mandating plenty of things.
Here are a few examples:
1- Vaccine passports are illegal
2- Vaccine requirements are illegal
3- CRI can’t be taught in public schools
4- abortion regulations
5- stay in Mexico policy
6- buy American
I get that you don’t want wasteful government spending or intrusions into yore personal life so just say that. You don’t gotta take a radical indefensible position like “being called” to “limit” government to support the above.