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Oprah Winfrey is a once-in-a-lifetime public figure whose impact has been greater than the average celebrity. She’s written a plethora of books, has an incredibly successful television network and has done so much more. It’s no wonder people were wishing she run for president in 2020 after the Golden Globes aired on Jan. 7. Although some may find it absurd, the odds of Winfrey becoming the next president aren’t as slim as people may assume.
Winfrey has been an idol for years. She’s always been a great example for the youth and would certainly solidify her legacy if she became president. Children are told they can be whatever they want to be as long as they believe, and I certainly believe Winfrey could be the next president.
President Donald Trump, against all odds, has managed to become president with no political experience. By these standards, Winfrey running for president isn’t so ridiculous. She may not have political experience, but the impact she’s had in the entertainment industry has been incredibly beneficial. Over the years, she’s had much more of a positive impact on her fans and the general public, making them a priority in her life.
Her years of philanthropic work are a strong argument for why she could be a good president. She has dedicated her career to helping others, even starting her own charities. Trump also had his own charity. However, he shut it down after the revelation of his “self-dealing.” Our current president has proven to be untrustworthy while Winfrey has a history of being genuine.
Trump has already discussed running for re-election in 2020. There’s the possibility of Winfrey running as his opponent. Trump’s recent statement about “shithole countries” is only the latest installment of offensive statements and actions that are likely to deter voters. There are many reasons why he’s unfit to be our president. Knowing Winfrey’s background as someone whose desire is to help and heal, we can safely guess she’d prefer to say and do things far less offensive.
A great concern is whether or not Winfrey is qualified to hold a place in politics. Although not in political science, she already has an undergraduate degree in communications from Tennessee State University. If she chose to go back to school for political science, she could do so and finish by 2020. Even with this argument, there are quite a few presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, who never attended college at all. Some of the country’s most well-known presidents didn’t attend college, yet were able to make an impact that greatly affected our nation’s history. It’s safe to believe Winfrey can become well-educated enough, if she isn’t already, to take control of our country.
This country’s government is built on the idea that it’s the people’s choice. Knowing this, the odds of Winfrey becoming a candidate aren’t so unrealistic. Do I truly expect Winfrey to run for president? No. I don’t believe she wants to carry the task, and she has other obligations that she’d prefer to tend to. Is it still possible? Absolutely. She’s been the epitome of confidence for years. She believed in herself against all odds and that’s certainly the type of person I want running my country.
Chantelle Baker is a 21-year-old communication studies senior from Waipahu, Hawaii.