Talk show host Oprah Winfrey arrives to speak on stage during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 21, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images
Talk show and media icon Oprah Winfrey on Wednesday endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
“What we’re going to do is elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States,” Winfrey said at the Democratic National Convention.
Winfrey also delivered a rebuke to Republican nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
“We are beyond ridiculous tweets and lies and foolery,” Winfrey said.
The appearance, which was reported by several news outlets earlier Wednesday but kept under wraps by the DNC, is notable not just for Winfrey’s star power.
The influential media trailblazer has largely stayed above the political fray throughout her career, and “hadn’t intended to be involved” in Harris’ campaign, according to CBS host Gayle King, one of Winfrey’s close friends.
Winfrey’s first-ever endorsement of a political candidate went to then-Sen. Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential cycle. One study estimated that Winfrey’s backing drove roughly 1 million votes into Obama’s column in the Democratic primary.
She also supported former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and President Joe Biden in the 2020 cycle.
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