Caitlyn Jenner Explains to Seth Meyers Why She Voted for Donald Trump...and Why She's Upset With Him

Caitlyn Jenner
“My loyalty is not with Donald Trump," Jenner said. "My loyalty is not with the Republican party. My loyalty is with this community, and I will fight for this community." Late Night With Seth Meyers

Caitlyn Jenner has been making the rounds on talk shows this week to promote her recently released memoir, Secrets of My Life. On Monday, she explained to Tucker Carlson why Republicans need to do a better job addressing LGBT issues. The next day she said on CNN that she would consider running for office. "Would I be better working from the inside?" she said. "If that is the case... I would seriously look at a run. It just depends where I could be more effective."

Also on Tuesday, Jenner stopped by Late Night with Seth Meyers, where she discussed her life as an athlete, how difficult it was for her to come out as trans and, of course, Donald Trump, for whom she voted last November.

Related: Caitlyn Jenner reacts to transgender student rights repeal

"I'm not a one-issue voter," she said about her decision to vote for Trump, for which she drew plenty of criticism. "I'm not stupid. The Republican party does not do a good job when it comes to equality and the entire LGBT community. The Democrats are better there. I've been around a long time. I'm probably a little bit more conservative. I believe in little things like the Constitution and freedom. I believe in minimal government. I believe in the people of this country to get us out of the trouble that we're in, financially and economically, more than I believe the government is going to fix the issue. The Republicans have done a better job in that direction."

Jenner went on to express frustration with the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Though she met with him to discuss LGBT issues before the inauguration, Trump repealed Title IX protections for transgender students barely a month after he was sworn in. Jenner was not happy.

Well @realDonaldTrump, from one Republican to another, this is a disaster. You made a promise to protect the LGBTQ community. Call me. pic.twitter.com/XwYe0LNUOq

— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) February 24, 2017

She reiterated her opposition to Trump's handling of LGBT issues Tuesday night. "My loyalty is not with Donald Trump. My loyalty is not with the Republican party. My loyalty is with this community, and I will fight for this community," she said, despite having just explained that traditional Republican ideals are what motivated her to vote for Trump in November.

Jenner's situation is a complex one, and she will continue to face criticism from her own community, especially as she continues to support the Republican party. When Meyers asked if she would vote for Trump again, she stopped short of saying no, or that she regrets her vote in November. "It's three-and-a-half years away, there's a lot that's going to happen," she said.

What's indisputable is the courage Jenner has displayed over the past two years since she came out as trans. She told Meyers that when she made the decision to do it, she'd never even met a trans person in her life. There was no one to confide in or seek guidance from. She did it all on her own, and she recognizes that what she has accomplished as a trans woman will be her legacy.

"What I'm doing today is more important than winning the (Olympic) Games 40 years ago," she said. "This community is very marginalized. It's misunderstood. We have a terrible murder rate. We had our ninth homicide just since the beginning of the year. Eight out of nine are trans women of color, the other is a Native American. We have a suicide rate that is so high. This is such a marginalized community. We have so many issue that are out there right now. I'd like to fight those. I'm very blessed. I've lived a very good life, and I'd like to help."

She's not going to be meeting with Trump anytime soon, though. "He's toxic," she said, referencing the decision to roll back Title IX. It's also why she says she declined an invitation to play golf with Trump—that and fear she may damage his ego.

"I haven't done it because I don't think he wants to get beat by a 67-year-old trans woman," she said.

Uncommon Knowledge

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Ryan Bort is a staff writer covering culture for Newsweek. Previously, he was a freelance writer and editor, and his ... Read more

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