Is Beto running for president? Oprah thinks so. Bradley Cooper hopes so.


Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) sat down with Oprah Winfrey at a theater in Times Square on Tuesday afternoon to tape a 50-minute interview for Winfrey's "SuperSoul Conservations from Times Square," which also included chats with actors Michael B. Jordan and Bradley Cooper, philanthropist Melinda Gates, and Time's Up CEO Lisa Borders. Oprah pressed O'Rourke several times on whether he's running in 2020. "I have been thinking about running for president," he said, to loud applause. And? "I'm so excited at the prospect of being able to play that role," he said.
"What's it going to take for you to say 'yes?'" Winfrey asked. "For me, it will really be family," O'Rourke said, noting the concerns of his wife and three young kids. He said that when he visited with former President Barack Obama, Obama didn't encourage him to run, but "he said, 'Look, just to be really clear, this is one of the most intense' experiences one can go through, 'and so know that going into this.'" Beto indulged in a moment of awe: "It's hard to believe that I'm saying I met with Barack Obama — and I'm saying it to Oprah Winfrey."
O'Rourke said he's "increasingly excited about doing something — again to the best of my ability, fulfilling my purpose to its greatest level," and if he can "play some role in helping the country" bridge its divides and come together, "by God I'm going to do it." "By God, when are you going to know the answer?" Oprah asked. "The serious answer is really soon," he said. "Before the end of this month." Winfrey wrapped up the interview by saying, "You seem like you're getting ready to run." Beto smiled.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Cooper was the next interview. "I hope he runs," he said. "We need inspiration." The interview will air Feb. 16 on Winfrey's OWN network, but you can watch them discuss civic engagement below. Peter Weber
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies