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 Speculation about a 2020 White House bid by Winfrey blew up on
social media and news outlets after her rousing "new day" speech
at the Golden Globes awards show on Sunday night, which touched
on female and black empowerment, her roots in poverty and
support of those who speak up about sexual abuse and harassment.
But some media commentators also injected skepticism into the
surge of excitement among fans of the former talk show star,
saying the Democratic Party and the country might well reject
the notion of another celebrity political novice following
Trump's 2016 election.
Winfrey, long associated with Democratic politics and
fundraising, has not commented publicly on the speculation.
Known to millions by her first name, Winfrey, 63, has been a
cultural force in the country for decades.
Trump, speaking with reporters during a White House meeting with
lawmakers, said in response to a question, "Yeah I'll beat
Oprah. Oprah would be a lot of fun.
"I know her very well. ... I like Oprah. I don't think she's
going to run," said the Republican president, 71.
Winfrey confidante Gayle King said earlier on Tuesday there was
no change in Winfrey's past position - that she is not
interested in running for president.
"I do think she's intrigued by the idea, I do think that," King
said on the "CBS This Morning" program. "I also know that after
years of watching 'The Oprah (Winfrey) Show' you always have the
right to change your mind. I don't think at this point she's
actually considering it."
However, CNN, citing two of Winfrey's close friends, reported on
Monday that the television and movie producer and actress was
actively thinking about a White House bid.
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Winfrey has raised millions of dollars for various causes, including
shelters for battered women but, like Trump when he launched his
White House campaign, she has no prior experience in government.
Trump, a businessman and former reality TV star, based part of his
appeal on the fact he was truly not a Washington insider.
"NOPRAH! Do we really need another celebrity president?" read the
front page of Tuesday's New York Post. A critique in Slate on Monday
was headlined "Oprah? Really?," and bemoaned the "impossibly boring"
current crop of major political figures, making people more likely
to vote for celebrities like Trump or Winfrey.
Former Trump White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who was the
public face of some of the Trump administration's early missteps
last year, said on the "Good Morning Britain" show that Winfrey
lacked "political infrastructure" and would have a hard time
adjusting to the White House.
Winfrey first gained national fame with her TV talk show, which
often focused on self-improvement and touched on previously taboo
subjects like incest, rape, eating disorders and depression. She
used the show's success to build a media empire encompassing movie
production, magazines, cable TV, and satellite radio, becoming one
of the world's richest women.
Winfrey also branched out into acting. She is credited with roles in
nearly 30 movie and TV productions, including a role in director
Steven Spielberg's "The Color Purple" that earned her an Oscar
nomination for best supporting actress.
(Reporting by Ian Simpson and Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by
Jonathan Oatis and Jill Serjeant; Editing by Frances Kerry)
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