Oprah Winfrey’s best friend Gayle King, one of the co-hosts of CBS This Morning, said on the program Tuesday that the queen of talk is ‘intrigued’ by the idea of running for president.
‘I don’t think she is actively considering it, I don’t think she is actively considering it at this time,’ King said.
Presidential rumors ramped up after Winfrey gave a powerful speech at the Golden Globes Sunday night, proclaiming ‘a new day is on the horizon.’
Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Globes speech on Sunday night opened the door to rumors that she might be interested in a presidential run. On Tuesday, bestie Gayle King said the queen of talk wasn’t ‘actively considering’ seeking the White House
‘And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men fighting hard to make sure they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say, “Me too,” again,’ Oprah announced from onstage of the glitzy Los Angeles ceremony, where Hollywood’s women wore black to symbolically speak out against sexual harassment ans assault.
Directly after the speech, her longtime partner Steadman Graham added fuel to the fire by telling the Los Angeles Times a presidential run isn’t totally out.
‘It’s up to the people,’ Graham said. ‘She would absolutely do it.’
Two unnamed pals of Winfrey’s added to the speculation by telling CNN Monday that the longtime talk show host is ‘actively thinking’ about a bid.
The White House even chimed in, welcoming Oprah as a challenger as well.
‘We welcome the challenger, whether it be Oprah Winfrey or anybody else,’ Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Last fall, Winfrey had said she has no intention of running for political office.
On Tuesday, King suggested that her best friend’s viewpoint remained unchanged.
‘No, I absolutely don’t think that her position has changed, I don’t,’ King told her CBS This Morning co-hosts, who were grilling her on the topic. ‘I was up talking to her very late last night,’ King added.
‘I do think this though guys, I do think she’s intrigued by the idea, I do think that,’ King continued.
‘I also know that after years of watching the Oprah show, you always have the right to change your mind,’ the CBS anchor added.