Caitlyn Jenner is under renewed scrutiny after a photo recently surfaced showing her standing alongside billionaire Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump. The image, taken at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, was shared on X by the right-wing watchdog account @PatriotTakes, which captioned the post:
“Funny how trans people magically become ok when they are at Mar-a-Lago.”
The image — which also includes Trump’s granddaughter — has reignited criticism of Jenner’s relationship with the former president, whose administration took multiple steps to roll back transgender rights.
Trump, has signed numerous executive orders aimed at erasing transgender identity from public life. These included directives to revoke legal recognition of trans individuals, end trans-inclusive policies in schools, and a now-reversed ban on transgender people serving in the military. Trump has also used language painting trans people as mentally ill and dangerous, often resorting to dehumanising rhetoric.
Despite this, Jenner — a transgender woman and longtime Republican — has maintained support for Trump in recent years. In May 2021, she told Fox News, “Obviously I would support [Trump]” in his 2024 presidential bid. She later endorsed him again via Instagram, writing:
“We had world peace, unity, and law and order under President Trump!”
Though Jenner initially criticised Trump in 2018, stating she was “wrong” to believe he would support LGBTQ+ rights, her alignment with him appears to have shifted once again. At that time, she accused the administration of “relentlessly attacking” the trans community.
Critics were quick to point out the irony of Jenner’s presence at Mar-a-Lago. In December, she confirmed she uses the women’s restroom at the resort — a sharp contrast to GOP-led campaigns banning trans women from women’s bathrooms.
When a user on X asked if “Caitlyn, Elon, and Donald all used the bathroom together,” Jenner bluntly replied, “We do not.”
Despite coming out as transgender in 2015 and being a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community, Jenner continues to voice controversial views, including opposing the inclusion of trans women in female sports — a stance she holds despite her own status as a trans woman and former Olympic athlete.
“I have gotten more flak for being a conservative Republican than I have for being trans,” Jenner has said.
The photo continues to stir debate online, highlighting the tensions between Jenner’s identity and her political affiliations — particularly as conservative politicians intensify efforts to restrict transgender rights across the United States.
