Oprah Winfrey for president was something of a running theme throughout the Golden Globes on Sunday, beginning with Seth Meyers’ opening monologue. He jokingly forbade Winfrey from considering the presidency.

But the trend picked up steam as the night unfolded, particularly after Winfrey’s impassioned acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

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It didn’t take long for social media, and celebs in particular, to rally Winfrey for the job, including inside the ceremony.


“It’s up to the people,” Winfrey’s longtime partner, Stedman Graham, told The Times. “She would absolutely do it.”

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Gayle King, Winfrey’s best buddy, echoed Graham’s sentiments: “I thought that speech was incredible. I got goosebumps,” she also told The Times.

Eva Longoria and Keith Urban shared a table at the ceremony and gushed over Winfrey’s remarks.


“That speech!” Longoria said.

“It was more of an exultation,” Urban replied.

Alan F. Horn, chairman of the Walt Disney Studios, was equally impressed.

“She knows how to deliver it too,” Horn remarked. “She’s really emotional.”


When Oprah is speaking at the Golden Globes and your goals shift to VP... pic.twitter.com/3ghEVMmCwF — Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) January 8, 2018

When a Times reporter showed Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson the tweet above, the “Fast and the Furious” star laughed and asked for a link.

As for his own potential presidential run, Johnson said, “The consideration is always serious. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can. But I don’t know a lot about politics.”

Asked what he was doing to get up to speed, Johnson offered only a mischievous grin.


Of Winfrey, Johnson called her “incredible” and described himself as “very moved” by her words.

Oprah returned to her seat before the live show resumed, led by a bodyguard, but not before stopping to speak with a special guest.

Oprah Winfrey on considering a run for president: ‘Okaay!’ »

#MeToo founder Tarana Burke, who accompanied actress Michelle Williams to the ceremony, was visibly moved after Winfrey’s speech.


Burke told The Times afterward what transpired when Winfrey spoke to her.

“She thanked me and gave me a hug and said something like, ‘We’re doing it together.’ It meant so much to me because when I was in the early days of doing workshops with women, it was Oprah and Gabrielle Union whose stories I used.

“So to hear her say #MeToo up there was such a full-circle moment,” Burke added. “I don’t even want her for the presidency. I just want to create something new for her.”

Here’s a sampling of who would likely vote for Winfrey in 2020:


Switched back to the Golden Globes to watch Oprah get her award. Never let it be said that I don’t respect the president of the United States. — Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) January 8, 2018

Oprah/Michelle 2020 — Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) January 8, 2018

Oprah 2020!!!!! Best speech of the night!! — Bob Harper (@MyTrainerBob) January 8, 2018


As I sit here in tears...I have never ever seen such a speech. @Oprah, my friend. Please run for President. This world needs more of THAT. WOW. — Billy Gilman (@BillyGilman) January 8, 2018

She’s running. A new day is on the way. — Leslie Odom, Jr. (@leslieodomjr) January 8, 2018


Seth Meyers: "In 2011, I told some jokes about our current president at the WHCD... I just want to say: Oprah, you will never be president. You do not have what it takes. And Hanks. Where's Hanks? You will never be vice president." #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/vQzxrHZfrt — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 8, 2018

She’s running. — James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) January 8, 2018

Our president is giving her state of the union. — roxane gay (@rgay) January 8, 2018


Ok. Oprah's running. — Anna Holmes (@AnnaHolmes) January 8, 2018

Oprah. 2020. — Shaun King (@shaunking) January 8, 2018

The only thing that would have made that better would have been "Yes, we can. And I am. 2020." #Oprah #etalkGlobes #GoldenGlobes — Elaine L. (@LaineyGossip) January 8, 2018


Oprah shades her 2020 opponent: "It's the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice. To tyrants and victims, to secrets and lies." #GoldenGlobes — Matt Wilstein (@mattwilstein) January 8, 2018

Whether she runs or not, @oprah has already given the best campaign speech of the 2020 cycle. #GoldenGlobes — Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) January 8, 2018

Can I vote for Oprah in 2020 right now?? — RosenbergTelevision (@Rosenbergradio) January 8, 2018

I, for one, am loving this first campaign speech for Oprah's 2020 run — Samhita Mukhopadhyay (@TheSamhita) January 8, 2018


Oprah isn't running for U.S. president, guys. Why in the hell would she do that to herself?*



*She's running for galaxy president. — Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) January 8, 2018

So excited that Oprah is president now — Alison Segel (@OnlineAlison) January 8, 2018

When your PASTOR is also your PRESIDENT . @Oprah . Thank you . 🙏🏿 🙌🏾#TIMESUP #goldenglobes — Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) January 8, 2018


2018 Golden Globes On Now Video: What can be done to help with inequality? 2:50 On Now Video: Oprah Winfrey, a look back at her career 1:14 On Now Video: Why did you wear black to the Golden Globes? 3:23 On Now Video: William H. Macy thinks the world would be a better place if women ran it 0:46 On Now Video: Lena Waithe is on a mission with 'Master of None' and 'The Chi' 0:26 On Now Video: Milo Ventimiglia says he doesn't see gay, black, white, woman, man: 'I see an artist' 1:26 On Now Video: Ann Dowd on the exposure of predators in Hollywood 0:49 On Now Video: 'The Square's' Ruben Östlund and Terry Notary on sexual harassment in Hollywood 0:56 On Now Video: Raphael Saadiq on how to behave with women, with a little help from Dave Chappelle 1:49 On Now Video: Director Nora Twomey on wearing black at the Golden Globes 2:06

Los Angeles Times reporters Amy Kaufman and Jen Yamato contributed to this report.

libby.hill@latimes.com

@midwestspitfire


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UPDATES:

9:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional tweets and comments from inside the ceremony.

This story was originally published at 7:50 p.m.