President Trump would be happy to run against Oprah Winfrey in 2020, the White House said Monday, amid heightened speculation that the television personality may be "actively considering" a presidential bid.
"We welcome the challenge, whether it be Oprah Winfrey or anybody else," deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Winfrey, 63, lit up the Internet on Sunday night after delivering a fiery speech about sexual harassment and racial injustice during the 75th annual Golden Globe awards. The speech immediately stirred speculation that she may be preparing to challenge Trump if he chooses to seek reelection at the end of his first term.
Sources told CNN's Brian Stetler on Monday that Winfrey has been "actively considering" a White House bid. And her longtime partner later added that "she would absolutely do it" if she felt most of the country wanted her to run.
Winfrey, who endorsed Hillary Clinton in her 2016 run against Trump, has previously and explicitly denied any interest in running for public office.
"There will be no running for office of any kind for me," the billionaire entrepreneur told CBS last October.
