Oprah Winfrey makes surprise appearance at Democratic convention

The comment is a reference to Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, who made a now-famous comment about childless women.

In 2021, Senator Vance said in an interview that the US was governed by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.”

Oprah, whose production company is based in Chicago, does not have any children.

“Sweet promise of tomorrow, we’re not going back,” Oprah told delegates, leading to chants of “not going back”.

Tracy Prince and Kathy Sykes jumped out of their seats when they saw Oprah, who was born in their home state of Mississippi, take to the stage.

“We love Oprah so much,” Mrs Sykes told BBC News. “Everyone in Mississippi is so proud that she claims us.”

She said Oprah’s speech was a “powerful message” to independent voters in particular to vote for Ms Harris.

“She gave very good reasons why – to choose common sense over nonsense,” Mrs Sykes said from the convention hall.