Oprah 2020?

Ed Prestera ‘18, Staff Writer

At the Golden Globe Awards, Oprah Winfrey received a lifetime achievement award and gave a powerful speech that dominated the news cycle for the following days. She called for a “new day”, and speaking about the ‘me too’ movement, Oprah gave a heart warming speech that condemned abuse by powerful men in Hollywood and society. As a prominent figure in the world today, it was good to see her stand up for the injustices that many people face. It was a speech that inspired lots, but it also spurred a popular question: will Oprah Winfrey run for president in 2020?

The topic was discussed at length in the following days, as CNN reported two sources close to Oprah say she is “actively thinking” about running. When examining her life, it easy to see why many people adore her. She comes from a poor family from Mississippi, where at the age of 14 she was raped and impregnated. Despite her childhood experiences she has lived an extraordinary life. Oprah is a talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. She is a multi-billionaire and one of the most influential women in the world. However, does this mean she would make a good president?

Those who support her see her as a great communicator who inspires people. They think she is smart and can work well with the opposition because of her personality. Also, not being a politician is seen an advantage, as it creates a persona of being above the politics, similar to Trump. She has the money needed to run, and would not be tied to donors or superPACs. Many on the left see Oprah as the anti-Trump. They see someone who can bring people together instead of dividing them. Someone who represents many of the groups that despise Trump and Republicans.

On the other hand, some people see a possible Oprah presidency as a joke. They find Oprah unqualified without any political experience. They think it is hypocritical for Democrats to want a celebrity to run after they spent the past three years criticizing Trump for being just that. Many see Oprah as being part of the “Hollywood elite,” and out of touch with the problems facing the common-folk today. Also, nobody is certain on Oprah’s views on various issues like immigration, abortion, taxes, healthcare, the environment, etc. This leaves an area of concern as supporting someone without knowing their platform can be troublesome.

A Trump-Oprah 2020 election would certainly be unprecedented. Trump is already confident in his chances, saying “Yeah, I’ll beat Oprah.” Oprah is an intriguing candidate, but there is not enough information on her yet to merit wide support. Her policies and her knowledge of those polices are unknown. She may seem like a counter punch to Trump, but it is unknown if she is actually interested or qualified to be that person. However, if she did run, it would certainly make 2020 one of the most exciting elections in history.