Former Olympic athlete and current reality TV star Bruce Jenner admitted in an interview with Diane Sawyer last night that he is transgender and is in the process of transitioning to become a female. While this had been long speculated, Jenner also revealed another, perhaps more-shocking facet of his life: he's a conservative Republican.
When Sawyer asked if Jenner cheered when Obama became the first president to even say the word “transgender” in a State of the Union address, the 65-year-old replied that he “would certainly give him credit for that.”
“But not to get political,” Jenner continued, “I’ve never been a big fan, I’m kind of more on the conservative side.”
“Are your a Republican?” Sawyer asked in response, to which Jenner replied, “Yeah! Is that a bad thing? I believe in the constitution.”
“Do you think that would be an unsettling thing for some people in the conservative wing of the party?” Sawyer asked.
“I’ve thought about that,” says Jenner, adding that neither political party has a monopoly on understanding.
Twitter reacted accordingly:
#BruceJenner just came out... as a Republican! Now THAT's shocking!!!!!!!!
— Perez Hilton (@PerezHilton) April 25, 2015Wonder if left will commit seppuku over Jenner being a republican or will they be open minded and accept?
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) April 25, 2015Major revelation by #BRUCEJENNER 2nite & tho I don't approve, I respect him 4 finally coming out as a republican
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) April 25, 2015
Love it! Jenner came out as a conservative! #BruceJennerABC
— Jimmy LaSalvia (@JimmyLaSalvia) April 25, 2015Bruce Jenner wants to become a woman and people are freaking out that he's a republican...#BruceJennerABC
— Nati Aguilar (@ItsNatiAguilar) April 25, 2015Thanks to Bruce Jenner millions of Americans can finally feel what it's like to know a Republican who lives in California.
— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) April 25, 2015I got the gender choice- but the republican thing ?? Lol #BruceJenner abc
— Lea Black (@LeaBlackMiami) April 25, 2015All the fans Bruce Jenner just gained the past hour and a half he just lost once he said he's Republican lol
— D.Rose (@Bcuzican_) April 25, 2015Not confused that Bruce Jenner is trans. Is confused that Bruce Jenner is a Republican.
— Olivia Deibler (@ohdeib) April 25, 2015Jenner said that while this will be his last interview as "Bruce," he will not reveal his new name just yet.