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Social Media Fuels Speculation That Oprah Winfrey Will Run for President in 2020

NBC tweet: 'Nothing but respect for our future president' (Updated)

Oprah Winfrey / Getty Images
January 8, 2018

Oprah Winfrey sparked speculation on social media that she will run for president in 2020 after she received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes on Sunday, delivering a speech that received several standing ovations and became a viral hit online.

During her speech, Winfrey said the press is "under siege these days" and that the media's job is to uncover the truth.

"I want to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association because we all know the press is under siege these days," Winfrey said. "We also know it's the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice. To—to tyrants and victims, and secrets and lies. I want to say that I value the press more than ever before as we try to navigate these complicated times, which brings me to this: what I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have."

After Winfrey's speech, celebrities, journalists, and commentators on social media called on her to run for president in 2020.

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News organizations were quick to speculate on whether Winfrey will run in 2020.

NBC's official Twitter account appeared to endorse Winfrey for president, saying, "Nothing but respect for OUR future president." The network deleted the tweet on Monday, calling it a mistake.

When asked whether Winfrey will run for president, her longtime partner, Stedman Graham, told the Los Angeles Times, "It's up to the people. She would absolutely do it."

While many Twitter users praised Winfrey's speech, not everyone was excited about the idea of her being president.

Back in 1999, then-businessman Donald Trump told Larry King during an interview that Winfrey would be his "first choice" for vice president.

UPDATED 11:34 A.M.: This story was updated to note that NBC deleted its tweet on Oprah Winfrey.