Oprah Winfrey defends decisions to platform Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz
USA Today • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Oprah Winfrey acknowledged giving Dr. Phil McGraw and Dr. Mehmet Oz platforms on her show but denied responsibility for their later conservative political stances.
- Winfrey explained she invited McGraw and Oz to her show because she found their practical advice and medical explanations valuable and believed they could help her audience.
- She emphasized that their political paths were independent of her influence, stating their success and views were not connected to her decisions.
- Dr. Phil hosted his own daytime talk show from 2002 to 2023, while Dr. Oz's show ran from 2009 to 2022 before Oz joined the Trump administration as head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
- Both doctors have publicly supported former President Donald Trump, with Oz serving in his administration and McGraw endorsing Trump’s policies ahead of the 2024 election.
