Kim Kardashian released a statement on her website this weekend re-affirming her support for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, after an interview published Friday in which she said she was undecided between Clinton and Republican Donald Trump caused a firestorm on social media.
“A ‘quote’ of mine was released yesterday causing my phone to blow up by friends, family and even both candidates’ camps, so I want to explain the context in which I said I was ‘on the fence’ about my vote,” the 35-year-old Keeping up with the Kardashians star wrote in a brief statement.
Kardashian said she had considered refraining from voting in this year’s election, but after considering issues of most importance to her, including gun control and abortion rights, she decided to go with Clinton over Trump.
“I found that without a doubt, I stand with Hillary. I’m with her. I believe Hillary will best represent our country and is the most qualified for the job. This year, I’m not just voting for myself, but also for my children, and I took that into careful consideration when I made my decision.”
In an interview for Wonderland‘s Autumn 2016 fashion issue published Friday, Kardashian said that she had become conflicted about who to vote for after having a long political discussion with her step-father Caitlyn Jenner, an outspoken Republican.
“At first I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m so Hillary [Clinton]’, but I had a long political call with Caitlyn last night about why she’s voting Trump. I’m on the fence,” the reality TV star said.
.The quote caught many of her fans by surprise; Kardashian had been an apparent Clinton supporter, having told media outlets she would vote for her and having attended at least one fundraiser for the candidate. She snapped a selfie with her husband Kanye West and with Clinton at a Los Angeles fundraiser last year, a photo the candidate later gushed about in an interview on Ellen.
Kardashian concluded her statement by saying that she had nothing against people supporting Trump in this year’s election.
“Now that I have made my choice I want to be clear… I would never judge anyone based on their political or religious beliefs. I believe that both candidates have the intention of making the country a safer and stronger place for every American, they just have different ideas about how we get there.”
“God bless America for allowing us to even make these decisions – there are so many in this world who are not so privileged,” she added.
Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum