Caitlyn Jenner Responds to Trump's Trans Military Ban
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President Donald Trump's controversial announcement of a ban on transgender military service members on Wednesday quickly pulled Caitlyn Jenner into the crossfire on social media.
On Wednesday morning, Trump unexpectedly tweeted that transgender people will no longer be allowed to serve in the military.
The announcement prompted Twitter users to look angrily to Jenner for a response.
Jenner, a prominent representation of a transgender woman in pop culture who voted for Trump, has repeatedly voiced support of the Republican Party, despite its poor track record regarding LGBT rights.
"I feel like our best hope to get back to constitutional government with 18 enumerated powers is in the Republican Party," Jenner told an audience at a brunch in Cleveland in 2016. "And I have to admit I’ve been very disappointed over the last five or ten years and so I won’t give up hope on it."
The Olympic gold medalist and reality star supported Trump's campaign during the Republican primary. In April 2016, she used the ladies room at Trump Tower after the then-presidential candidate said transgender people should be able to use "whatever bathroom they feel is appropriate." In the viral video of her visit, Jenner slammed Trump opponent Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for his opposition to transgender rights.
"Thank you, Donald — I really appreciate it," she said in a Facebook video about her bathroom visit. "And by the way, Ted, nobody got molested."
Jenner has also been critical of Trump's actions toward LGBT people.
In a February video, Jenner criticized Trump's reversal of President Barack Obama's protections for transgender students.
On Wednesday, Jenner responded to Trump's new ban on transgender people serving in the military, mentioning Trump's campaign promise to be an advocate for the LGBT community.
However users tweeted that it was too little too late.
Users pointed out that Jenner's economic and racial privilege likely blinded her to the damage of anti-transgender policies.
The vast majority of transgender Americans lack Caitlyn Jenner's money and influence.
LGBT Americans face higher levels of discrimination in the workplace. An analysis by the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles found that LGBT people consistently report workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. A 2008 study found that earnings for male to female transgender women fell by one third after transitioning. Gay and transgender families are also more likely to live in poverty, according to the Center for American Progress.
Jenner is not the first wealthy minority to face backlash on social justice issues.
During the 2016 Republican National Convention, businessman Peter Thiel, who is gay, dismissed legal battles over whether transgender people can use the bathroom of their choice as a "distraction." The comments sparked swift backlash on Twitter.
In an interview with ABC in November of 2016, rapper Lil' Wayne, whose birth name is Dwayne Carter Jr., said that the Black Lives Matter movement for racial equality had nothing to do with him.
"I am a young, black, rich motherfucker," he said. "If that don't let you know that America understand black motherfuckers matter these days, I don't know what it is. Don't come at me with that dumb shit, ma'am. My life matter, especially to my bitches." The rappper later apologized for his comments.
