Overview
Former President Donald Trump fired back at Oprah Winfrey after she took a swipe at him during her surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention. Trump responded by highlighting her past praise of him, turning the tables on the media mogul’s recent criticisms.
Why It Matters
Winfrey’s shifting stance towards Trump highlights the hypocrisy of Hollywood elites who once supported him but now criticize him as part of the political establishment.
Who It Impacts
This impacts voters who are fed up with the double standards of celebrities and media figures who change their tune based on the political climate.
Former President Donald Trump wasted no time responding to Oprah Winfrey’s veiled attacks on him during her surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention. Winfrey, who criticized Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, as part of a broader critique of Republican leadership, was quickly reminded of her previous praise for Trump. In true Trump fashion, he turned the situation around by reminding voters that Winfrey once saw him as a viable leader.
During her speech, Winfrey attempted to paint Trump as a distraction from what she called the “real issues” facing the country, stating, “We are beyond ridiculous tweets and lies and foolery.” Her comments didn’t sit well with Trump, who promptly highlighted a thank-you letter she had sent him in 2000, praising his potential as a president. The Trump campaign quickly circulated the letter, which read, “Too bad we’re not running for office. What a team!” The letter undercut Winfrey’s current rhetoric, exposing the contradiction in her public statements.
Trump also called out Winfrey for what he sees as typical Hollywood hypocrisy—supporting a figure when it suits them and abandoning them when political winds shift. He noted that Winfrey’s comments at the convention were a far cry from the admiration she once had for him. “She might have thought it back then, but now she wants to pretend it never happened,” Trump quipped, pointing out how quickly former allies in the entertainment world turn when politics comes into play.
Winfrey also took aim at Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance, who faced backlash for past remarks about “childless cat ladies.” Trump responded by defending Vance and dismissing Winfrey’s remarks as more elitist lecturing from a celebrity out of touch with the concerns of everyday Americans. He emphasized that Winfrey’s criticisms do nothing to help voters understand the real issues facing the country, but instead serve as more Hollywood posturing.
Throughout her career, Winfrey has had a complicated relationship with Trump. Though once seemingly on good terms, her pivot to attacking him in the political arena reveals what Trump supporters see as the fickle nature of Hollywood elites. Trump’s campaign seized on this moment as another example of celebrities turning on him when it’s politically convenient, all while ignoring their own past statements and actions.
Winfrey’s attempt to frame herself as a defender of democracy and civil debate rings hollow for many who remember her past alignment with Trump. Her speech at the Democratic National Convention was seen by some as an opportunistic move to stay relevant in a political climate increasingly hostile to Trump. As voters grow weary of celebrity involvement in politics, Trump’s defense against Winfrey’s criticisms speaks to a broader frustration with Hollywood’s double standards and shifting allegiances.
