Oprah in running to fight the Don
OPRAH Winfrey is “actively thinking” about running for US President after her electrifying and uniting speech at the Golden Globe Awards led to growing calls for her to launch a White House campaign.
CNN, citing sources close to the TV megastar (pictured), said she was pondering a campaign as a Democratic candidate for 2020. Her partner of 22 years, Stedman Graham, said: “It’s up to the people. She would absolutely do it.”
The growing rumours about the 63-year-old’s presidential plans erupted after her emotional speech at the Golden Globes, in which she lambasted the sexual harassment of women amid the wave of complaints against powerful and influential Hollywood figures.
It was an address that certainly sounded like that of a presidential candidate – polished, effective and authentic – and it had the assembled A-listers in raptures.
“A new day is on the horizon!” Oprah said towards the end of her speech as she collected the Cecil B. Demille outstanding contribution award.
The New Yorker reflected a common view when it said it was “the kind of speech we used to hear from the person running the country”.
Proving that Oprah’s rallying cry for social change and inspiration for young girls made waves far beyond the confines of the Beverly Hilton, social media was flooded with calls that she run for president.
The hashtag #oprah2020 was soon trending globally. Meryl Streep – co-founder of the Time’s Up campaign that saw the stars turn out in black for Sunday’s ceremony to protest against sexual harassment and abuse – was adamant she wanted Oprah, who has no political experience, to run.
“I don’t think she had any intention (of declaring herself). But now she doesn’t have a choice,” Streep said, adding that the speech had “launched a rocket”.
Oprah has become a cultural phenomenon after being born into a poor home in Mississippi before breaking through as a TV news and talk show host in the 1980s.
President Donald Trump, who also had no political experience when he was elected, was happy to accept the challenge. “We welcome the challenge, whether it be Oprah Winfrey or anybody else,” a spokesman said.