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.
Subscribe to 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.
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub
Speed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
New York court tosses Trump's $500M fraud fine
Speed Read A divided appeals court threw out a hefty penalty against President Trump for fraudulently inflating his wealth
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfully
Speed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfully
Speed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records request
Speed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by Trump
Speed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank plan
Speed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutional
Speed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for rifles
Speed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBI
Speed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'