Caityln Jenner - who's running for California governor - hedged her bets on the abortion debate by saying she's both 'for women's right to choose' but also 'supports' Texas's extreme new abortion law.
Jenner - who has been polling at one percent for the last two months and is near or at the bottom of the gubernatorial race - was asked Tuesday about her stance on Texas's abortion law during an interview on CNN.
The law outlaws abortion after six weeks, even though an overwhelming majority of women don't even know they're pregnant before six weeks.
'I am for women's right to choose,' Jenner said.
'I'm also for a state having the ability to make their own laws, and so I support Texas in that decision. That's their decision. I'm OK with that.'
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GOP California gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner (right) said during CNN's Tuesday morning show 'New Day' with anchor Brianna Keiler (left) that she 'supports' new Texas abortion law but then says she also supports 'a woman's right to choose'
CNN 'New Day' anchor Brianna Keiler asked a follow up question: 'But you're fine with the Texas law even though you say you support abortion rights?'
Jenner replied, 'I think they have a right in their state to do what they want to do.
'Now do I agree the decision or not? No, to be honest I actually probably do not agree with the decision, but I agree that they have the right to make their own decision.'
Texas' SB-8, also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, is the strictest abortion law in the country and has reignited the abortion debate.
The state law prevents women from having abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is usually around six weeks - before many women become aware of their pregnancy.
The law also allows an individual to sue a person suspected of aiding in an abortion in Texas, even if it is a case or rape or incest.
They could be awarded a minimum of $10,000 if they were to win the case, which will have to be paid for by the abortion provider.
The restrictive abortion bill was signed into law in May by Abbott and took effect Wednesday.
The conservative-majority Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of upholding the law, by declining a request from abortion providers to block it.
When pressed about the contradictory statement, Jenner replied, 'I think they have a right in their state to do what they want to do. Now do I agree the decision or not? No, to be honest I actually probably do not agree with the decision'
Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Elena Kagan dissented. The other justices - all appointed by Republican presidents - allowed the law to stand. From left: Justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, Elena Kagan, John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, Stephen Breyer, Amy Coney Barrett, and Sonia Sotomayor
After the contradictory statements, the interview was shared on social media and Jenner became a trending topic Tuesday afternoon.
Most the of the reactions on Twitter were inquisitive remarks about why CNN is interviewing a candidate who never polled high than six percent, which was back in early June.
Other remarks accused Jenner, who's running as a Republican to replace current Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the state's upcoming recall election on September 14, of straddling both sides of the debate.
'You can’t have it both ways, @Caitlyn_Jenner. No state has the right to deprive preborn children of their right to live, California included. A woman’s right to choose doesn’t include the right to kill a child,' Lila Rose tweeted.
'Caitlyn Jenner is polling at one percent, a completely irrelevant candidate, and yet CNN is giving her a feature interview,' Palmer Report, a political analysis site, tweeted.
'Unfortunately, the lesson the media learned from 2016 and 2020 is that elections are reality shows – and that’s the worst possible lesson they could have learned.'
'So you support a woman’s right to choose AND the Texas abortion ban?? Your attempt to appeal to everyone leaves you appealing to no one,' 'J Conn' tweeted.
Fernando Betancourt summed up Jenner's abortion stance on Twitter: 'So let me get this straight…Caitlyn Jenner is for a state’s right to choose to not let their citizens choose? You can’t make this up anymore. #TexasWarOnWomen #CaliforniaRecall #RegisterToVote.'
Charlotte Clymer tweeted, 'If any other candidate was polling at 1%, they wouldn't be getting airtime. There is absolutely no reason why Caitlyn Jenner should be on any news network.'
The Twitter user 'Duty to Warn' said, 'In a segment on CNN, Caitlyn Jenner said she supports a woman's right to choose but also supports Texas' new abortion law. My brain hurts.'
'If there where more than like 50 people watching #CNN these days, the idea they thought it was genius to have Caitlyn Jenner on to spew her particular brand of self loathing garbage, MIGHT have pissed me off, but you stay Klassy as usual .@CNN?? #MyKingdomForAJournalist,' 'Rocko' tweeted.
'Giving Caitlyn Jenner airtime is journalistic malpractice. She is not polling anywhere near relevancy, and she has demonstrated repeatedly that she is not even remotely qualified,' Sam White tweeted.
'Giving her airtime does more harm than good. Why is this so hard for national outlets
