Caitlyn Jenner, who came out as a Republican transgender woman last year, recently disclosed that she likes Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) out of the GOP presidential candidates running this year.
While Jenner did not go so far as endorsing Cruz during the interview with the Advocate published this week, she praised him for his conservative positions and suggested she might one day serve as his "trans ambassador" if he wins the White House.
"I like Ted Cruz," Jenner said when asked by Dawn Ennis, the magazine’s news editor who is also a transgender, about who she backs for the nomination.
"I think he’s very conservative and a great constitutionalist and a very articulate man. I haven’t endorsed him or anything like that. But I also think, he’s an evangelical Christian, and probably one of the worst ones when it comes to trans issues."
Jenner, formerly Bruce, came out as a transgender woman last April during a highly-publicized interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer. In the same conversation, she also identified herself as a Republican.
In the exchange with the Advocate, Jenner said she supports Republicans because of their positions on the economy, though she acknowledged her belief that Democrats are "better" when it comes to transgender issues and other social issues. Jenner announced her support of same-sex marriage last September.
"Number 1, if we don’t have a country, we don’t have trans issues," Jenner expanded. "We need jobs. We need a vibrant economy. I want every trans person to have a job. With $19 trillion in debt and it keeps going up, we’re spending money we don’t have. Eventually, it’s going to end. And I don’t want to see that. Socialism did not build this country. Capitalism did. Free enterprise. The people built it. And they need to be given the opportunity to build it back up."
Jenner called Cruz, who she met before her public gender transition, "very nice" and indicated she would be happy to advise him on transgender issues if he is elected president.
"Wouldn’t it be great, let’s say he goes on to be president. And I have all my girls on a trans issues board to advise him on making decisions when it comes to trans issues. Isn’t that a good idea?" Jenner said.
When asked by the interviewer if she meant she could be Cruz’s "trans ambassador," Jenner replied, "Yes, trans ambassador to the president of the United States, so we can say, ‘Ted, love what you’re doing but here’s what’s going on.’"
Jenner did not, however, speak highly of all the Republican presidential candidates. She labeled business mogul Donald Trump’s recent refusal to disavow David Duke, the former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, "political B.S."
Jenner’s comments were published following Super Tuesday, when Trump won seven states voting in primaries and caucuses and Cruz came away with three victories.
Jenner took some time during the interview to promote season two of her reality show "I Am Cait," which premieres Sunday on the E! network. She said the season will include some political talk and will also feature a meeting between herself and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail.