Forget the rumors: Oprah Winfrey is not planning to run for President, said her best friend, “CBS This Morning” host Gayle King.
After Oprah’s rousing speech at the Golden Globe Awards, the Hollywood gliteratti–and many in the media–declared Oprah the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee for 2020.
Oprah, who as recently as June categorically denied she would ever run for any political office, was rumored to have changed her mind in the light of President Trump’s first year in office. But, according to King, those rumors are simply not true.
“I absolutely don’t think her position has changed,” King said, while discussing the issue on her show. “I was up talking to her late last night. I do think she was intrigued by the idea. I do think that. I also know that after years of watching the ‘Oprah show,’ you always have the right to change your mind. I don’t think at this point she is actually considering it.”
King was also quick to throw cold water on comments made by Winfrey’s longtime partner, Stedman Graham, on Sunday night. Graham said, “Absolutely, she would,” when asked about a potential Oprah 2020 run.
King explained that Graham had misinterpreted the question–thinking he was being hypothetically asked whether Oprah would make a good President, rather than being asked if she would run.
“Because here’s the thing: Stedman would never so cavalierly say, ‘Absolutely she would do it. It’s up to the people.’ He would never just throw it out there like that,” King said. “She loves this country and would like to be in service in some way, but I don’t think she is actively considering it.”
