Caitlyn Jenner refuses to back down on trans athletes and praises Trump in trainwreck TV interview
Caitlyn Jenner gave her first televised interview since announcing her bid to become the next governor of California. (YouTube)
Caitlyn Jenner said she doesn’t care what people think of her views on trans people participating in sports in her first major interview since announcing her bid to become governor of California.
The reality television star sat down with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday evening (5 May) to discuss what California would look like if she successfully ousts Gavin Newsom from his post.
In the wide-ranging interview – which took place at her private airplane hangar – Caitlyn Jenner claimed she wants to be a “role model” to young people, but refused to back away from her controversial comments about trans girls in sport.
The gubernatorial hopeful also told Hannity she would immediately remove all COVID-19 restrictions in the state and said she is “all for” building Trump’s wall along the California-Mexico border.
When asked about her comments about trans participation in sport, Jenner said: “I stick with my statements that I made.”
She continued: “I think we have to make sure that the integrity of girls’ sports is there, I think that’s extremely important. But there’s more to it than just what I said, because I just said ‘biological boys in sports’ – there’s more to it than that, and I think in the future I will explain more of that.
“But for me as a trans woman, I think role models are extremely important for young people. Trans issues, people struggle with big time. Our suicide rate is nine times higher than the general public.
“And for me to be a role model for them, to be out there, I’m running for governor for the state of California – who would have ever thunk that? We’ve never even had a woman governor,” Jenner said.
When Hannity pointed out that some people are “mad” at her for siding with Republican lawmakers instead of trans people, Jenner replied: “I move on. I want to be a role model, and to be a leader, and I think the most important thing as a leader that you can do is your compassion, your honesty, and I think that sometimes is very lacking in politics. So I want to be an example to all people, not just trans people.”
Caitlyn Jenner praised Donald Trump as a ‘disruptor’
Caitlyn Jenner frequently spoke in vague generalities when quizzed by Hannity on her policy positions. When asked about wildfires – a major problem in California – she said: “Forest management is extremely important.”
When asked if she supports scrapping pandemic-related restrictions, Jenner said: “Absolutely, open it right up.”
She subsequently tried to take credit for California governor Gavin Newsom’s decision to ease COVID-19 restrictions from mid-July, telling Hannity: “Actually, it’s even on a small scale kind of working already. About three weeks ago, it was rumoured, rightfully, that I was looking into running for governor. The next day Gavin Newsom has a press conference, says the state is opening up July 15. I’m like, ‘They’re watching this,’ and I’m saying, ‘Yes, it’s already working!'”
She also used the interview opportunity to praise Donald Trump, saying she liked that the notoriously anti-LGBT+ president was a “disruptor”.
“He came in and shook the system up, OK?” Jenner said. “A lot of people didn’t like that in Washington DC, but he came in and shook the system up. I think he did some things that I agree with, some things I didn’t agree with.”
Caitlyn Jenner said she was “more hopeful at the beginning” of Trump’s presidency that he would improve the lives of LGBT+ people, but added: “There were some good things he did.”
She continued: “On the other hand, Biden, I don’t think I’ve agreed with anything, I don’t think since he’s been in there he’s done anything for the American worker, maybe other ones, so it is a 180 degree turn in our country going the other direction, and it scares me.”
Jenner also offered a confused stance on immigration. At one point, she accidentally told Hannity that she is “pro illegal immigration”. The host corrected her, pointing out that she meant she was “pro legal immigration”.
“Sorry, did I miss the legal part? Thanks for catching me, you’ve got my back Sean, I appreciate that,” she said.
Jenner promised to do her “absolute best” to stop locations in California from being sanctuary cities for undocumented immigrants and said “some people” would be “sent back” to their home countries if she wins the recall election.
She added: “We need to spend some money to have a fair and equitable immigration system. I am all for the wall. I would secure the wall. We can’t have a state, we can’t have a country without a secure wall.”
Jenner also frequently flaunted her obscene wealth throughout the interview. At one point, she claimed that her rich friends are leaving California because they don’t want to look at homeless people anymore.
“Actually, at my [airplane] hangar, the guy right across from me was packing up his hangar and I said, ‘Where are you going?’ and he says, ‘I’m moving to Sedona, Arizona. I can’t take it anymore. I can’t walk down the streets and see the homeless.’ Jenner added: “I don’t want to leave. Either I stay and fight or I get out of here.”
At the end of her interview, Jenner promised to give Hannity a ride in her airplane once the cameras stopped rolling.
The interview comes just days after Jenner told TMZ that it “just isn’t fair” for trans girls to play on the same sports teams as cis girls.
She was widely criticised by LGBT+ organisations and individuals for the comment, with questioning why she is siding with Republican lawmakers over trans youth.
