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Oprah `Intrigued’ But Not Planning Presidential Bid, Friend Says

Oprah Winfrey is not actively considering a run for president in 2020 but has been “intrigued” by the buzz.

Oprah `Intrigued’ But Not Planning Presidential Bid, Friend Says
Oprah Winfrey, chief executive officer of Oprah Winfrey Network LLC, speaks during an interview at “The David Rubenstein Show: Peer to Peer Conversations” event in New York, U.S. (Photographer: Kholood Eid/Bloomberg)  

(Bloomberg) -- Oprah Winfrey is not actively considering a run for president in 2020 but has been “intrigued” by the buzz sparked by her impassioned speech at the Golden Globes on Sunday, her friend Gayle King said Tuesday on CBS’s “This Morning” program.

“I don’t think she’s actively considering it at this time,” King, a host on the CBS show, said. “I do think she’s intrigued by the idea, I do think that. I also know that after years of watching the Oprah show you also always have the right to change your mind.”

King is the latest Winfrey associate to tamp down rumors that Winfrey, a billionaire, is contemplating a run for the White House against President Donald Trump. King said a comment to the Los Angeles Times by Winfrey’s longtime partner, Stedman Graham, was a result of a misinterpretation of a reporter’s question.

Graham was quoted as saying that Winfrey would “absolutely” run for president if the people supported her.

“Stedman says that he thought the reporter asked, ‘Would she make a good president?’” King said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Toluse Olorunnipa in Washington at tolorunnipa@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, Elizabeth Wasserman, Elizabeth Titus

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