Oprah Winfrey, the iconic talk show host and entrepreneur, delivered an unexpected address on Wednesday during the Democratic National Convention, where she endorsed Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, much to the audience’s enthusiasm.
Dressed in a striking purple suit reminiscent of Harris, Winfrey took the stage as Jon Batiste’s “Freedom” played and shared an impassioned speech focused on personal freedom, echoing key themes of the evening.
Though she did not mention Harris’s Republican rival, former President Trump, Winfrey highlighted the various rights that Democrats are committed to defending against perceived threats.
“There are people who want you to view the country as a battle between us and them,” Winfrey stated. “People who seek to instill fear and to exert control. They want you to believe that books are perilous while assault weapons are benign. That there’s a correct way to believe and an incorrect way to love.”
Addressing a diverse audience, Winfrey framed the choice between Harris and Trump as one that reflects “loyalty to the Constitution over loyalty to any individual.”
“Let’s choose common sense over nonsense, for that represents the best of America,” she urged. “Let’s select the hopeful promise of tomorrow over the painful return to yesterday. … We won’t go back.”
Winfrey also defended those disparaged by Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.
“When a home is ablaze, we don’t inquire about someone’s race or faith, nor do we consider their partner’s identity or voting record,” Winfrey pointed out. “We simply focus on the best way to rescue them. And if that home belongs to a cat-loving individual without children, we will strive to save that cat as well.”
She emphasized that if women do not have autonomy over their bodies and the upbringing of their children, then the American dream is unattainable.
Describing the opposition as wanting to revert to a “time of desperation, shame, and sheer fear,” Winfrey critiqued statements made by Trump during the campaign, including his suggestion that if he wins, voters would not have to participate in future elections.
“A certain candidate claims we need only vote once and we’ll never need to again,” she remarked. “Well, I’m a registered independent who relishes voting repeatedly because that’s the essence of being an American.”
Closing with her signature style, Winfrey urged the audience, “Let’s choose Kamala Harris,” stretching the last name for emphasis.
The occasion marked a homecoming for Winfrey, who began her renowned talk show at a local station in Chicago in 1983 before it gained national prominence three years later, running for 25 years and establishing the foundation of her media empire.
“Who says you can’t go home again?” Winfrey asked, igniting cheers from the crowd.
Winfrey’s prior support for Barack Obama in 2008 was highly notable, being her first political endorsement as a well-respected media icon. Although she backed Hillary Clinton in 2016, she did not actively campaign for her, leaving the Clinton campaign to ponder the potential impact of her presence.
With Harris now leading as the first Black woman to be a major party nominee, Winfrey is once again stepping into the spotlight. There had even been speculation about Winfrey running for the presidency in 2020, prompting her friend Gayle King to publicly dispel those rumors.