Screengrab of Leslie Jones as Oprah on Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update"

SNL Explains Why Oprah Would Run for President: “I Need to Get White Women Back on Track”

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As part of last night’s “Weekend Update,” Leslie Jones appeared as Oprah Winfrey alongside Chris Redd as Stedman Graham to discuss her potential presidential run. The discussion of ‘Oprah for President’ arose after Winfrey gave an amazing Golden Globes speech in which her grace, powerful words, and clear compassion provided much-needed inspiration. (The contrast to literally anything Trump has ever said is enough to make you despair.) While plenty of people then pointed out that we don’t really need another celebrity president, Saturday Night Live definitely had fun with the idea of a Winfrey run.

In the “Weekend Update” segment, co-host Colin Jost asks Jones’ Oprah: “Why would you ever do this?”

“I’ll tell you, Colin,” she says. “I need to get white women back on track. Ever since I’ve been off the air, they’ve gotten out of control. They voted for Trump. They voted for Roy Moore. They kept twelve different shows about flipping houses on the air. It’s a mess! Somebody needs to look these women in the eye and say, ‘You deserve my three favorite things: love, respect, and a new panini maker!’ … Who else is gonna do that for them?”

Jones’ Oprah also appeared earlier in last night’s episode, popping in at the end of the Cold Open segment. That segment was set on Morning Joe, with Kate McKinnon as Mika Brzezinski and Alex Moffat as Joe Scarborough interviewing Fred Armisen’s Michael Wolff about his book Fire and Fury and Bill Murray’s Steve Bannon about his post-Breitbart career.

Jones’ Oprah pops in at the end of the segment (at around the 7:10 mark). “Oprah, are you running?” asks Moffat’s Scarborough.

“Well, I am a celebrity, so I’m qualified,” she says. “But I’m different from Donald Trump, because I’m actually a billionaire. So who knows? I mean, there’s only one job in the world more powerful than being president. Being Oprah!”

To see the entire “Weekend Update,” which includes segments on Fire and Fury and Trump’s “shithole” comments, you can watch below:

(Featured image: screenshot)

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