Oprah Winfrey delivered a rousing speech at Hollywood's first Golden Globe Awards show since the sexual harassment scandal, telling young women that "a new day is on the horizon".  But there is widespread speculation that the speech was aimed far beyond the stars gathered at the Beverly Hilton.

"This year, we became the story," said the 63-year old former talk show host, who became a billionaire media entrepreneur.  Although 2017's renewed conversation on harassment and workplace gender inequities began with the Harvey Weinstein scandal, Winfrey was quick to speak beyond that scope:  "But it's not just a story affecting the entertainment industry," she said, "It's one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace."

"So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed, and bills to pay, and dreams to pursue," Winfrey continued, "They're the women whose names we'll never know."

"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 declared, bringing the audience to their feet.

Winfrey didn't mention Donald Trump by name, but went out of her way to defend one of his frequent targets, the news media.  "We all know that the press is under siege these days," she said, "But we also know that it is the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice, to tyrants, and victims, and secrets, and lies."

"I want to say that I value the press more than ever before," Winfrey continued.  "As we try to navigate these complicated times," adding, "What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have."

Earlier in the evening, Golden Globes host Seth Meyers joked about Oprah becoming president; after the show, the NBC Network continued in that spirit by referring to her as "our future president".  But thousands of social media users weren't joking and hoped the speech was the first salvo in the 2020 Presidential race. 

It's hardly the first time Winfrey's name has been mentioned as a possible presidential contender.  But now that Donald Trump has proved that any carbon-based bi-ped celebrity with a working pulse can get votes, her resume becomes even more impressive:  An actual self-made billionaire who utilized unprecedented communication skills to rise from abject poverty to media mogul who started two cable TV networks, she boasts the credentials most politicians only feign to possess.

“This year, we became the story,” Winfrey, 63, said, referring to the flood of accusations from women against prominent Hollywood figures, unleashed after a New York Times exposé last year about film producer Harvey Weinstein. “But it’s not just a story affecting the entertainment industry — it’s one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace."