Transgender Bruce Jenner a Republican: ‘I Believe in the Constitution’

Former Olympian Bruce Jenner admitted in an interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer on Friday that he is transgender and a Republican, even going so far as to say he would approach Republican leadership about championing transgender causes.

In the same interview where he announced he considers himself “for all intents and purposes” a woman, Jenner praised President Barack Obama for being the first president to say the “actual word transgender,” but he admitted that he’s not a fan of Obama, because he considers himself to also be conservative.

“Did you cheer the president - the first president ever to say the word transgender?” Sawyer asked.

“He actually was the first one to say the actual word transgender? I will certainly give him credit for that, but not to get political, I’ve just never been a big fan of-- I’m kind of more on the conservative side,” Jenner said.

“Are you a Republican?: Sawyer asked.

Jenner looks around and responds, “Yeah. Is that a bad thing? I believe in the Constitution.”

“No, no, no. Do you think that it will be maybe unsettling thing for some people in the conservative wing of the Republican Party?: Sawyer asked.

“I’ve thought about that,” Jenner said.

Sawyer explained in a voice-over that Jenner says no political party has a “monopoly on understanding.” Then she asked him whether he would approach the Republican leadership and ask them to champion transgender causes.

“You’re gonna go to Mitch McConnell and John Boehner and ask them to help champion this cause?” Sawyer asked.

“I would do that. Yeah, in a heartbeat. Why not? Yeah. And I think they’d be very receptive to it,” Jenner replied.