Backlash for Oprah

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that he didn’t think Oprah Winfrey will run for president in 2020, but that if she does, he’ll beat her.

Trump was taking reporters’ questions during a meeting with lawmakers on immigration when the topic came up.

• “Can you beat Oprah?” a reporter asked.
• “I’d beat Oprah,” the president said. “Oprah would be a lot of fun. I know her very well. … I like Oprah. I don’t think she’s going to run. I don’t think she’s going to run.”
• The president also noted he has appeared on her show. Harking back to 2000, when Trump first considered running for president, he mentioned Oprah as a running mate.
• It’s not clear if Oprah will run or not, but her BFF Gayle King addressed speculation on CBS This Morning Tuesday, saying: “I do think she’s intrigued by the idea. I do think that. I also know after years of watching the Oprah show, you always have a right to change your mind,” King said, adding: “I don’t think at this point she is actually considering it.”
• It seems everyone has a strong opinion about Oprah’s potential presidency, including Roseanne Barr.
• [“I do love Oprah. Of course, I love Oprah like everybody else. But you know what? I think it was time for us as a country to shake things up and, you know, try something different,” she said at the Television Critics Association‘s winter press tour, referring to her support of Trump. “What about Susan Sarandon for president?,” another reporter asked. “Actually, I think I’d be a better president than Oprah and Susan Sarandon, probably even President Trump. And I did run in 2012,” she said. (0:26 OC: “run in 2012)]