Oprah Winfrey is throwing cold water on Sen. Mitt Ronmey’s claim in his new book that she pushed for a unity ticket in 2020 with him in order “to save the country.”

Winfrey’s spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter that she never considered a run for the presidency in 2020 and did not approach Romney to share a ticket with her.

“In November 2019, Ms. Winfrey called Senator Romney to encourage him to run on an Independent ticket,” the spokesperson told the news outlet. “She was not calling to be part of the ticket and was never considering running herself.”

The Utah senator’s biography is titled, “Romney: A Reckoning.” It was written by veteran political journalist McKay Coppins.

“Sure, we know from early excerpts of the McKay Coppins book Romney: A Reckoning that the Utah senator calls out various Republican colleagues for their hypocrisy, and even reveals that Oprah Winfrey wanted to run for president with him in 2020 (a claim she denies).

— Hal Marshall (@HalMarshall2309) October 19, 2023

In the book, Romney recounts getting a call from Winfrey, who is a Democrat. He contends that she suggested they form a unity ticket to thwart former President Trump.

The first to report on the explosive revelation was Axios who ran with the excerpt from the book on Monday.

“Winfrey is no stranger to politics, of course. She is a close friend of Barack and Michelle Obama, and not only endorsed the former president but has interviewed each of them a number of times, including in a special for Netflix earlier this year,” The Hollywood Reporter elaborated.

“Winfrey also weighed in on the Pennsylvania Senate race in 2020, endorsing John Fetterman over his opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, a man whom Winfrey helped make a household name thanks to frequent appearances on her daytime talk show and the subsequent launch of his own eponymous program. (Fetterman went on to win the Senate seat.)” the media outlet noted.

There have been a ton of rumors surrounding Winfrey’s alleged political ponderings. None of them have ever panned out. Romney’s claim, if true, seems to indicate that her political aspirations were more serious than many believed.

Romney says Oprah suggested a unity presidential ticket in 2020 to head off Trump

Entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey reportedly approached Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) to pitch him on the idea of teaming up against former President Donald J. Trump in 2020 but the wild idea never… pic.twitter.com/kPwmbu9B1G

— American Wire News (@americanwire_) October 17, 2023

Her denial of Romney’s claim means that one of them, or the author, is not telling the truth or there was a severe misunderstanding.

“On a phone call in 2019 with Ann Romney, Mitt Romney’s wife, Winfrey reportedly told her Michael Bloomberg had approached her about joining his ticket for office and wanted to gauge Mitt Romney’s interest before deciding, The New York Times reported. Winfrey said she doubted Joseph R. Biden Jr. or Pete Buttigieg could beat Trump and was ‘certain’ Elizabeth Warren could not. Ann Romney responded that her husband would not run for president in 2020 as a Republican nor an Independent,” Variety wrote.

“Winfrey met the Romneys in 2012 when she interviewed Mitt Romney in New Hampshire as he was running for president. The book reports she was ‘especially fond’ of Ann Romney,” the outlet added.

The very idea of a Winfrey/Romney ticket caused severe indigestion on X and neither one of them received love from users:

…you can say what you want, Oprah, but no one has to like it

— Bill Bradbrooke (@bradbrooke1963) October 17, 2023

Two of the most unrelatable people in America.

— D.B. (@DB_8721) October 17, 2023

not to help and serve the country, only to get Trump! amazing

— Al Owen (@AlOwen15) October 17, 2023

A scary thought!

— Bill Watkins (@BillDWatkins) October 16, 2023

What an epic fail that ticket would be.

— Jean (@jeaniegirlTN) October 17, 2023

“Unity ticket”? So dems are uniting with dems? I’m confused.

— Sean McCrate (@SeanMcCrate) October 17, 2023

I believe her. If she’d wanted to be President, then she would’ve had the pick of the litter, which he flatters himself by believing is him. Besides, she’s wealthy enough to have bought the job just like so many others have.

— K•D (@Ken_do_Daniels) October 17, 2023

Two bad mythical candidates.

— William Farro (@WilliamFarro8) October 17, 2023

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