The video, accompanied by a laconic but threatening tweet, “It’s over for her,” shows Oprah in a cordial interview with Donald Trump dating back decades, when the tycoon was still just a businessman and a television celebrity.
This revelation has unleashed a media storm, calling into question the consistency of Oprah, today one of the most critical voices towards Trump, especially after her passionate endorsement of Kamala Harris for the 2024 elections.
But what is really behind this footage? And why has it generated such polarized reactions
In the video, shot during the heyday of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Oprah is seen chatting amiably with Trump. The tone is light, almost playful. “You’ve achieved so much, Donald. Do you ever see yourself running for president?” Oprah asks with a smile. Trump responds with a joke, prompting laughter from her and the studio audience. Back then, Trump was a symbol of business success, a far cry from the controversial political leader he would become. The seemingly innocuous moment is a stark contrast to Oprah today, who has called him a threat to American values, as she reiterated in her speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where she strongly endorsed Harris as an alternative to Trump.
The backlash to the video was immediate and fierce. For Musk supporters and some Trump loyalists, the footage is damning evidence of Hollywood’s hypocrisy. “Oprah used to be all smiles with Trump when it was convenient for her, and now she’s attacking him out of political opportunism,” they wrote on social media. For them, the footage is a weapon to expose what they see as celebrities’ double standards, ready to change sides based on the political winds of the moment. Musk, who has long criticized Hollywood’s political activism as elitist and disconnected from reality, seems to have seized the opportunity to hit an icon like Oprah, reinforcing his narrative as a “champion of truth.”
On the other hand, Oprah’s defenders are not having it. They point out that context is everything: In the 1980s and 1990s, Trump was a different figure, a media-celebrated mogul, not the divisive politician who led the United States between 2017 and 2021. “People change, opinions evolve,” they argue. For them, Oprah’s shift from a cordial attitude to a staunch opposition reflects personal growth and a response to Trump’s behavior as president, not an opportunistic about-face. Her endorsement of Harris, seen as a call for unity and social justice, would therefore be consistent with the values she has always championed, not a calculated move to win consensus.
Musk is no stranger to these provocations. In recent years, he has often attacked Hollywood figures like Oprah and Whoopi Goldberg, accusing them of using their platforms to influence public opinion without being transparent about their pasts. For him, the Oprah video is a perfect example of what he sees as the hypocritical side of celebrity activism: once friendly with Trump, they are now distancing themselves from him to fall in line with the mainstream. By posting the video, Musk seems to want to demonstrate that celebrities are not always sincere in their ideals, but adapt to the political climate to remain relevant.
Oprah, for her part, is much more than a simple host. With her show, she has shaped American culture for decades, becoming a point of reference on issues such as well-being and social justice. Her political influence is undeniable: in 2008, her support for Barack Obama was decisive, so much so that the expression “Oprah Effect” was coined. Today, her support for Kamala Harris aims to repeat that success, presenting her as a leader capable of uniting a divided country. But Musk’s video risks clouding this narrative, insinuating doubts about its authenticity.
The reactions are split along predictable lines. Oprah’s critics, especially among Trump supporters, see the video as confirmation of their suspicions: a celebrity switching sides for convenience. “She was friends with Trump when he was a star, now she hates him because he’s trendy,” they write. Her defenders, meanwhile, insist the footage is irrelevant: “She’s not the same person she was then, and neither is Trump.” The debate has heated up on social media, with millions of views and comments reflecting the deep polarization of the moment.
The timing of Musk’s move is no accident. Released just days after Harris’s endorsement, the video could affect the perception of Oprah as a credible voice in the campaign. While its actual impact on the election is hard to predict, it raises broader questions about the role of celebrity in politics. Hollywood has long been a bastion of progressive activism, but critics like Musk see it as an elite out of touch with “real Americans.” For supporters, however, figures like Oprah amplify crucial messages, using their fame for the greater good.
While Hollywood is still reeling from shock, Oprah has yet to officially respond. Her next move—or her silence—could determine the outcome of this controversy. The video, while dated, has reignited the debate about celebrity coherence and their political clout. One thing is certain: Musk has hit the nail on the head, and the shockwaves of this revelation will be felt for a long time. The world is waiting to see how Oprah will respond to this attack, and whether her legacy will survive unscathed.
