Donald Trump said on Tuesday he could beat Oprah Winfrey
in a presidential race, while one of Winfrey’s closest friends said the
media mogul and actor was “intrigued” by the possibility of running but
was not considering it now.
Trump said he thinks running against Oprah will be lots of fun but he believes he will beat her easily.
“Yeah, I’ll beat Oprah; Oprah would be a lot of fun,” Trump told
reporters during an immigration meeting with congressional lawmakers.
Still, he added, “I don’t think she’s going to run.”
Speculation about a 2020 White House bid by Winfrey blew up on social
media and news outlets after her rousing 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.” 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.