Oprah just gave a clear answer about her rumored presidential run, and we have a lot of feelings
After Oprah’s January 7th Golden Globes speech, we felt empowered and hopeful that “a new day is on the horizon,” as the queen of entertainment herself put it. Many of us thought (or dreamed, at least) that the “new day” Oprah described was the day that she would announce her campaign for the U.S. presidency. But alas — according to the March 2018 InStyle cover interview, Oprah will not run for president in 2020.
When asked how she feels about the “Oprah 2020” slogan, which has regained popularity on social media since her speech, the television and movie mogul laughed. She told InStyle editor-in-chief Laura Brown;
"I’ve always felt very secure and confident with myself in knowing what I could do and what I could not. And so it’s not something that interests me. I don’t have the DNA for it."
Our hearts just sank.
CBS News anchor and Oprah’s BFF, Gayle King, has been egging on a potential presidential bid, knowing how wonderful a Winfrey administration would be for America.
"Gayle — who knows me as well as I know myself practically — has been calling me regularly and texting me things, like a woman in the airport saying, "When’s Oprah going to run?" So Gayle sends me these things, and then she’ll go, "I know, I know, I know! It wouldn’t be good for you — it would be good for everyone else."
Oprah said that she met with someone recently who said they could help her with a campaign. But she declined and said, “That’s not for me.”
It’s important to note that this InStyle interview took place three weeks before her acceptance of the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Globes, her riveting speech, and the resurgence of the #Oprah2020 hashtag. Therefore, perhaps since this interview, Oprah has changed her views on her potential candidacy. (OK, we know this is probably wishful thinking.)
Her long-time partner Stedman Graham did say after all that Oprah would “absolutely” run for president. (But we’re always inclined to trust the BFF over the boyfriend.)
But we shouldn’t get hopes up. If it’s not in Oprah’s DNA to be president, then we have to respect her decision. Although, we do hope Gayle keeps poking and prodding every so often, just in case.
