Gayle King says her best friend Oprah Winfrey is not “actually considering” a presidential run but is “intrigued” by the idea.
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After the Golden Globes on Sunday, many wondered if Oprah Winfrey would run for president in 2020. Her best friend, Gayle King, says she’s not “actually considering it,” but is “intrigued” by the idea.
“I absolutely don’t think that her position has changed,” King said on “CBS This Morning.” “I was up talking to her late last night. I do think she is intrigued by the idea. I do think that. I also know that after years of watching the ‘Oprah Show,’ you always have the right to change your mind. I don’t think at this point she is actually considering it.”
The “CBS This Morning” host also explained what Winfrey’s longterm partner, Stedman Graham, actually meant when he told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday that “it’s up to the people — she would absolutely do it.”
Also Read: Oprah Has Better Odds to Win 2020 Presidency Than Joe Biden, Dwayne Johnson
King said that Graham thought the reporter asked, “would she make a good president?” to which he responded, “Absolutely, she would.”
“That is how he interpreted the question,” King said. “Because here’s the thing: Stedman would never so cavalierly say, ‘Absolutely she would do it. It’s up to the people.’… He would never just throw it out there like that.”
Also Read: Oprah Winfrey 2020? Her Q Score Suggests She Would Win (Exclusive)
But Oprah “loves this country and would like to be in service in some way, but I don’t think she is actively considering it,” King said.
Back in October, Winfrey’s publicist told TheWrap that she is “not running for office.” Speculation has, however, continued to loom, returning with a vengeance Sunday night after the entertainment mogul’s widely-hailed acceptance speech for the Cecil B DeMille lifetime achievement award during the Golden Globe Awards ceremony.
2020 Presidential Election Odds: Can Oprah Challenge Trump? (Photos)
Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Globes speech inspired stars, including Meryl Streep, to endorse their candidate — even though the entertainment mogul isn’t officially running… yet. With the next election cycle on the horizon, bookmakers are asking who might challenge President Trump in 2020. The website betonline.ag shared its current odds on who will next win the White House. Getty Images
Ben Shapiro – 50/1 Odds
Conservative pundit Ben Shapiro has suggested he may stage a run for president in 2020. If we know one thing about his possible candidacy, it’s that Rosie O’Donnell won’t be stumping for him.
Tulsi Gabbard – 50/1 Odds
Gabbard was the first Samoan American and the first Hindu to be elected to Congress back in 2012, representing the state of Hawaii. Getty Images
Marco Rubio – 50/1 Odds
Rubio earned the nickname “Little Marco” from Trump during the Republican primary. Would he think to challenge his own party by running again? Getty Images
Mark Cuban – 50/1 Odds
“I think there is a place for somebody who is socially a centrist, but I’m fiscally conservative,” Cuban said on Fox News back in October, hinting he may run, but as a Republican. Getty Images
Paul Ryan – 50/1 Odds
When Ryan was reported to have his sights set on retiring as Speaker of the House, the White House denied it and suggested Trump and Ryan are working together just fine. Getty Images
Hillary Clinton – 50/1 Odds
Will we get a “What Happened 2” book should Clinton choose to run yet again?
Andrew Cuomo – 40/1 Odds
The governor of New York has frequently feuded with Trump and his sons.
Michael Bloomberg – 40/1 Odds
The former New York mayor’s name was also floated back in 2016, but his odds are down from 33/1 since then. Getty Images
Julian Castro – 40/1 Odds
Obama’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is a Texas native, the former mayor of San Antonio and is considered a rising star among Democrats. Getty Images
Amy Klobuchar – 33/1 Odds
Klobuchar is a senator from Minnesota and another democratic rising star. Getty Images
Kirsten Gillibrand – 25/1 Odds
The New York senator pushed back hard at Trump after he suggested that she was a “flunky” who “would do anything” for campaign contributions. Getty Images
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – 25/1 Odds
“The Rock” teased a presidential run in one of his “SNL” stints, but he may be smart to consider a vice president spot after hearing Oprah’s Golden Globes speech. Getty Images
Mark Zuckerberg – 25/1 Odds
The Silicon Valley CEO disputed Trump’s tweet that Facebook was biased against him, but has been focusing his attention on eliminating Russian trolls ‘ influence over the site. Getty Images
Joe Biden – 25/1 Odds
Biden has been the most vocal about talking down 2020 rumors compared to his fellow Democrats, but he’s also been among the most vocal against the current administration. NBC
Cory Booker – 25/1 Odds
Currently only 48, Booker is one of several young democratic hopefuls who could challenge Trump in 2020. Getty Images
Oprah Winfrey – 20/1 Odds
Oprah’s odds rocketed up after her inspiring Golden Globes speech, but it’s still anyone’s guess as to whether she’ll actually run.
Also Read: Oprah Winfrey 2020? Her Q Score Suggests She Would Win (Exclusive) Getty Images
Michelle Obama – 20/1 Odds
“Why don’t you want our kids to have good food at school? What is wrong with you and why is that a partisan issue,” the former first lady asked of President Trump, just one instance of how she’s challenged the current administration. Getty Images
Bernie Sanders – 16/1 Odds
The Vermont senator would be 79 in 2020. Would he run again? Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Kamala Harris – 12/1 Odds
The first-year senator from California has earned a lot of points in the last year thanks to her persistence in grilling Jeff Sessions in front of Congress. Getty Images
Elizabeth Warren – 12/1 Odds
The odds on the leading democratic candidate at this point in the race still point to the first female president, but it isn’t Hillary Clinton. Getty Images
Mike Pence – 9/1 Odds
The odds for Trump’s VP have actually improved since odds were first released following the 2016 election.
