Andrea Mandell

USA TODAY

Will Caitlyn Jenner become a trans ambassador to the White House?

That's what she's pitching, should Ted Cruz become president.

"I like Ted Cruz," Jenner, a lifelong Republican, told The Advocate Wednesday.

Here's why: "I think he's very conservative, and a great constitutionalist, and a very articulate man," she said. "I haven't endorsed him or anything like that. But I also think, he's an evangelical Christian, and probably one of the worst ones when it comes to trans issues."

Jenner's comments began making headlines soon after the article published. Cruz has staunchly protested against trans-friendly gender-open bathrooms (calling them "lunacy"), called marriage equality "fundamentally illegitimate, lawless, and unconstitutional" and opposes the military's moves to include transgender soldiers.

"We shouldn't view the military as a cauldron for social experiments," the presidential candidate said in October.

Jenner, who met Cruz before her transition, seemed aware her political beliefs would stir the pot.

"I get it. The Democrats are better when it comes to these types of social issues. I understand that," she said, but countered, "Number one, if we don't have a country, we don't have trans issues. We need jobs. We need a vibrant economy. I want every trans person to have a job. With $19 trillion in debt and it keeps going up, we're spending money we don't have. Eventually, it's going to end. And I don't want to see that. Socialism did not build this country. Capitalism did. Free enterprise. The people built it. And they need to be given the opportunity to build it back up."

Should Cruz win, Jenner, who recently tweeted a photo of her updated country club locker with a new nameplate (adding the hashtag #acceptance) suggested she become “trans ambassador to the president of the United States, so we can say, ‘Ted, love what you’re doing but here’s what’s going on.'”

Jenner's comments quickly found pushback online. ThinkProgress.org called the reality star's remarks tone-deaf. "The economy isn’t what’s keeping transgender people from finding employment — it’s anti-transgender discrimination," wrote Zack Ford.

On Twitter, a message to Jenner from Eunic Ortiz read, "Please stop. You're hurting us. Sincerely, LGBT people everywhere."

As of 5:30 p.m. ET, Cruz's Twitter account had yet to acknowledge Jenner's comments.