Olympic hero-turned-reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner says he might run for political office. The 2015 Glamour Woman of the Year recipient says his anger at President Donald Trump and Republicans in general regarding LGBT issues is what’s fueling his interest for political life.
Jenner, 67, recently criticized Trump, whom he voted for in the 2016 election, for abolishing former President Barack Obama’s overreaching transgender bathroom directive which forced all publicly-funded schools to dictate bathroom and locker-room use by “gender identity,” as opposed to biological sex, at the threat of revoked funding and lawsuits.
He’s also complained about the Republican Party’s stance toward his “community.”
“I do a lot of political stuff, but it’s mostly behind-the-scenes,” Jenner told the BCC on Friday.
“Over the next year I’m looking into it. I have to be very smart about this — where can I do a better job for my community, in bringing the Republican party around to LGBT issues?” he continued. “Is it from the outside — working from the perimeter, working with everybody to get Republicans to change their thinking? Or is it better off being on the inside — running for Senate or a Congress seat. Can I do more good there? Those are the things I’m evaluating,” he said.
The former Olympian also noted that “the best thing the Republican party can do is do a better job on LGBT issues.”
“I am a big supporter of my community and that is what I’m fighting for,” he declared.
Famously, then-candidate Trump said that trans people, including Jenner, should “use the bathroom they feel is appropriate.” Anything else would be “discriminatory,” he further suggested, much to the frustration of many conservatives.
Last month, Jenner revealed that Trump invited him to play golf when they saw one another at the inauguration. The reality TV star said he is no longer interested due to Trump’s actions on LGBT issues.
“I thought Trump would be better on these issues … because I’ve talked to him,” he said.
Jenner continued: “He does a lot of good things, he hires a lot of gay people, and so I thought maybe he’d be okay for a Republican, he could make some changes.”
The reality star is convinced Trump is being “influenced by people around him.”