- The Washington Times - Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Gayle King said Tuesday she doesn’t think her best friend Oprah Winfrey is considering a run for the presidency in 2020, but added Ms. Winfrey hasn’t entirely ruled out the possibility.

“I do think she’s intrigued by the idea,” Ms. King said on her CBS News program “This Morning,” which she co-hosts with Norah O’Donnell.

Ms. Winfrey’s speech at the Golden Globes Sunday launched a frenzy of rumors about the possibility of a presidential run for the former television star. Celebrities voiced their support for the idea and even Ms. Winfrey’s longtime partner Stedman Graham said she would be open to it.

President Trump said Tuesday that he’d beat Oprah Winfrey if she ran for president, but he doubts she will run.

“Yeah, I’ll beat Oprah. Oprah will be lots of fun,” he told reporters during a meeting with lawmakers at the White House. “I don’t think she’s going to run.”

He reminded reporters, “I did one of her last shows. … I like Oprah.”

CNN reported that sources close to Ms. Winfrey say she’s seriously assessing whether to toss her hat in the presidential ring.

Ms. Winfrey’s speech focused on women and girls amid the national conversation about sexual harassment and assault. Most celebrities at the event all wore black in support of the #MeToo movement.

President Trump’s eldest daughter and his adviser, Ivanka, praised Ms. Winfrey’s speech in a tweet Monday, and then received some pushback from celebrities.

“Just saw @Oprah’s empowering & inspiring speech at last night’s #GoldenGlobes. Let’s all come together, women & men, & say #TIMESUP! #United,” Ms. Trump, adviser to the president, tweeted.

Ms. Trump’s tweet received much criticism on Twitter for supporting the speech, including from celebrities like model Chrissy Teigen and actress Alyssa Milano.

“ew go away,” Ms. Teigen responded on Twitter.

“Great! You can make a lofty donation to the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund that is available to support your father’s accusers,” Ms. Milano replied, referencing the women who have accused Mr. Trump of sexual misconduct.

Ms. Trump has made women’s and family issues part of her platform in the White House. She worked with Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, to try to double the child tax credit in the GOP’s tax reform plan and came out against Republican Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race when his alleged sexual misconduct was made public.

• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.

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