Oprah rules out being Donald Trump's running mate, but endorses Jimmy Kimmel's bid

Oprah won't be Jimmy Kimmel's running mate
(Image credit: Jimmy Kimmel Live)

Oprah Winfrey was on Thursday's Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Kimmel brought up the 2016 race. "Donald Trump has said many times — even, like 15 years ago — he said that if he ran for president, he would love for you to be his running mate," Kimmel said. "I think he was just joking about that," Oprah replied, quickly. "I don't think he was joking," Kimmel said. Winfrey assured him she hasn't gotten a call from Trump about being his running mate, and Kimmel asked what she'd say if he did call. "I'd say Donald, I'm with her," Oprah said. (She endorsed Hillary Clinton on Wednesday.)

Kimmel said that, in his opinion, if Oprah ran at the top of the ticket, she would easily beat both Clinton and Trump. Oprah disagreed and demurred. "It's the one thing I know for sure, sure, sure, is I will never run for office," she said. "But I would say that, for many years, I used to think — until this election year — I thought, 'Wow. Why do people say that? I have no qualifications to run.' I'm feeling pretty qualified. After this year, I'm feeling really qualified."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.