California GOP gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner endorsed former President Donald Trump’s border wall Wednesday, saying, “We can’t have a country without a secure wall.”
During an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Jenner said she is “for the wall,” later promising to “do my absolute best” to eliminate California’s “sanctuary” state laws for illegal immigrants.
“It’s not going to be easy, but I will do my absolute best. I am for securing this state,” Jenner said. “I am pro-law enforcement. I am pro-border protection. OK? ICE, [I’m] pro-ICE. We need these people, and they do a wonderful job.”
During the interview, the former Olympic gold medalist sympathized with illegal immigrants who are currently in the United States, saying, “We are a compassionate country [and state].”
“I have met some of the greatest immigrants into our country. I had a guy the other day, and he was Spanish, and I’ve known him for 17 years,” she recalled. “And I said, ‘You know what? Come over here, I want to learn something. You know, what is your status?’”
“And he said, ‘I’ve been in this country 17 years. This is a gentleman, I mean, this is the greatest guy. I want him to be a US citizen, OK? He’s an asset to this state and to this country. But he’s been trying for 17 years to get citizenship … He’s lost two jobs because he didn’t have legal status,” Jenner continued.
“He finally got this other job where I met him, and he is the nicest, greatest guy. He would make — I mean, I would do everything for him to stay here. And so, you have to deal with it. We have to modernize. We have not modernized our immigration system in the United States to make it possible for people to immigrate into this country.”
Jenner also addressed being misgendered by “The View” co-host Joy Behar.
“Honestly, my mother, at times, misgenders me,” Jenner said, later adding that “I don’t have a problem with that. The community has a bigger problem with that than I do … For me as a trans woman, I think role models are extremely important for young people.”
“Trans issues people struggle with, big time. Our suicide rate is nine times higher than the general public,” she continued. “And for me to be a role model for them, to be out there, I am running for governor of the state of California. Who would have ever thunk that? We’ve never even had a woman governor.”
“I want to be a role model, and I think — and to be a leader. And I think the most important thing as a leader that you can do is [show] your compassion, your honesty, and I think that sometimes is very lacking in politics.”
