NBC on Monday deleted a tweet from its account calling Oprah Winfrey “OUR future president,” saying it was sent by a “third party agency” during the network’s Golden Globes broadcast.

“It is in reference to a joke made during the monologue and not meant to be a political statement. We have since removed the tweet,” NBC tweeted.

Yesterday a tweet about the Golden Globes and Oprah Winfrey was sent by a third party agency for NBC Entertainment in real time during the broadcast. It is in reference to a joke made during the monologue and not meant to be a political statement. We have since removed the tweet. — NBC (@nbc) January 8, 2018

After Golden Globes host Seth Meyers jokingly forbade Winfrey from running for president, noting he did the same with Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE in 2011, the network tweeted “Nothing but respect for OUR future president” to its 1.77 million followers, along with an image of Winfrey.

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A short time later, social media responded with confusion and disapproval for the tweet.

When NBC tweeted Oprah pic with 'Nothing but respect for OUR future president,' did it mean she should be president of NBC? Of the United States? Of something else? All-caps OUR kind of confusing... https://t.co/Q3TDMAmKRz pic.twitter.com/2uKUBKnQ5O — Byron York (@ByronYork) January 8, 2018

I have watched every episode of the Oprah show in history, I credit her with saving my life, there is no bigger fan...so I feel I have some moral authority when I say that this is a strange tweet for a broadcast network. https://t.co/bH0pczGPtY — Yashar Ali (@yashar) January 7, 2018

OPRAH 2020? NBC and Hollywood elites push ‘Oprah Winfrey for President’ after her Golden Globes speech pic.twitter.com/lctpqj2pu9 — FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) January 8, 2018

This tweet puts every reporter at NBC in a bad spot. Foolish thing for them to do. But at least now they are open about their bias. https://t.co/tIQtBodRkS — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 8, 2018

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Later in the broadcast, Winfrey received the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award and delivered an emotional speech about survivors of sexual harassment.

“For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up!” Winfrey said, leading to a standing ovation.

Her remarks prompted speculation she may run for president in 2020, though Winfrey said after the show she doesn't plan to launch a campaign.