Donald Trump says he'd beat Oprah Winfrey if she ran for US president
Updated
US President Donald Trump says he would beat talk show trailblazer Oprah Winfrey if she ran against him in 2020.
Key points:
- A rousing speech at the Golden Globes reignited speculation of a presidential run
- Mr Trump says he does not think Oprah will run
- Confidante Gayle King said Oprah was "intrigued by the idea"
There has been feverish speculation Oprah could run for the Democratic nomination at the next presidential election after a rousing speech at the Golden Globes that touched on female and black empowerment, her roots in poverty and support of those who speak up about sexual abuse and harassment.
Oprah has previously said she would never run for public office and has not commented on the recent speculation about a presidential tilt.
One of Oprah's closest friends said the media mogul and actress was "intrigued" by the possibility of running but was not considering it now.
After two days of heightened speculation, Mr Trump said he did not think she would end up running but thought he could defeat her if she did.
"Yeah, I'll beat Oprah," Mr Trump said.
"Oprah would be a lot of fun, I know her very well, you know I did one of her last shows."
"I like Oprah. I don't think she's going to run."
Some media commentators have injected scepticism 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 Mr Trump's 2016 election.
Oprah has long been associated with Democratic politics, fundraising and was a vocal early supporter of former president Barack Obama.
Known to millions by her first name, Oprah, 63, has been a cultural force in the country for decades.
Oprah's 'intrigued by the idea'
Oprah confidante Gayle King said earlier there was no change in Oprah's past position, that she was not interested in running for president.
"I do think she's intrigued by the idea, I do think that," King said on the CBS This Morning program.
"I also know that after years of watching The Oprah [Winfrey] Show you always have the right to change your mind. I don't think at this point she's actually considering it."
However, CNN, citing two of Oprah's close friends, reported on Monday that the television and movie producer and actress was actively thinking about a White House bid.
Oprah has raised millions of dollars for various causes, including shelters for battered women but, like Mr Trump when he launched his White House campaign, she has no prior experience in government.
Amid growing speculation over Oprah's potential political ambitions, Mr Trump's daughter and economic adviser Ivanka tweeted her support for her "empowering and inspiring" speech.
Media sceptical of another celebrity president
"NOPRAH! Do we really need another celebrity president?" read the front page of Tuesday's New York Post.
A critique in Slate on Monday was headlined "Oprah? Really?", and bemoaned the "impossibly boring" current crop of major political figures, making people more likely to vote for celebrities like Mr Trump or Oprah.
Former Trump White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who was the public face of some of the Trump administration's early missteps last year, said on the Good Morning Britain show that Oprah lacked "political infrastructure" and would have a hard time adjusting to the White House.
Oprah first gained national fame with her TV talk show, which often focused on self-improvement and touched on previously taboo subjects like incest, rape, eating disorders and depression.
She used the show's success to build a media empire encompassing movie production, magazines, cable TV, and satellite radio, becoming one of the world's richest women.
Oprah also branched out into acting. She is credited with roles in nearly 30 movie and TV productions, including a role in director Steven Spielberg's The Colour Purple that earned her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
ABC/Reuters
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, donald-trump, united-states
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