The position of President of the United States should remain exclusively for those with government experience, not one held by popular American celebrities.

On Sunday January 7, Oprah Winfrey made history as the first black woman awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award for “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.” Decked out in all black supporting the Time’s Up campaign, Winfrey accepted the award with an incredibly well-written and meaningful speech: “So I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon! And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to ensure that they become the leaders that take us to a time when nobody has to say ‘Me, too,’ again.”

Her speech left Americans stunned. Celebrities and common citizens alike took to Twitter and other forms of social media to show their appreciation for Winfrey’s words. Podcast host and former speech writer Jon Favreau wrote, “Oprah Winfrey is as brilliant and inspiring as any public figure today. She doesn’t speak to celebrity America, she speaks to America.” Receiving 22.9 thousand likes and 3,664 retweets exhibit the mass public agreement.

#Oprah2020 trended on Twitter as people continued to show their appreciation for her articulate address. But should America seriously consider having yet another celebrity for the position of President?

Winfrey’s fans and supporters may find it comforting to envision the next President of the United States as a successful woman who genuinely cares about the well-being of Americans and serving the public, but like current President Donald Trump, and any other celebrity lacking experience in government, popular figures lack the qualifications necessary to take on the role of the President of the United States.

The only people who should run for presidency in America are those who have held an official government position prior. Candidates should retain a thorough understanding of existing policies and the core issues that plague this country; they should possess a clear, precise plan on how to better this country.

Trump, a business mogul and master of real estate, earned his nomination of republican candidate in the 2016 election because he offered a breath of fresh air from the typical players of the political game. His supporters believed that he, a man with no government experience, would challenge the cycle of politics without principle that plagues this country. They believed he would break down the barrier between politics and American need, and that he would truly work for the people. Those individuals perpetuating #Oprah2020 share these same feelings.  

In an interview with CNN, Elizabeth Warren, a senator for Massachusetts, commented on Winfrey’s Golden Globes speech: “Hearing Oprah’s voice and her energy and passion and her determination, it’s inspiring to all of us, and she shows great leadership.”

However, when asked about America’s apparent hunger for another celebrity billionaire president she said, “I don’t know. But here’s what I do know. We are, right now, in the middle of a fight that will determine our future for generations to come.”

This simple fact could not hold more truth. Right now, Americans should only place their trust in a candidate with official experience in government to hold a position in office to lead this divided country.