Full Breakdown
Oprah Defends Platforming of Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz Amid Trump-Era Criticism
8/14/2026, 12:38:34 AM
Core Event
In a recent interview with *Emmy Magazine*, Oprah Winfrey addressed the backlash she has faced for having given Dr. Phil McGraw and Dr. Mehmet Oz their national platforms on *The Oprah Winfrey Show*. She also recalled how both men assisted her during a 1997–1998 Texas cattle-men lawsuit that threatened her reputation.
Background & Context
*The Oprah Winfrey Show* aired from 1986 to 2011. Dr. Phil first appeared as a weekly relationship strategist in 1998 and later launched the syndicated *Dr. Phil* show in 2002, produced by Winfrey’s Harpo Productions. Dr. Oz began as a medical guest in 2004 and received his own series, *The Dr. Oz Show*, in 2009. Both men later aligned with President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement. McGraw joined the President’s Religious Liberty Commission in May 2024 and accompanied ICE agents to a Chicago raid in June 2025. Oz was appointed Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2025 and has publicly supported Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
Data & Statistics
- Dr. Phil McGraw: born 1946, age 75; former licensed clinical psychologist whose license lapsed two decades ago.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz: born 1957, age 66; holds medical and business degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.
- Oprah’s show ran 25 years (1986-2011).
- *Dr. Phil* premiered 2002; *The Dr. Oz Show* premiered 2009.
- McGraw’s 2025 ICE raid participation and Oz’s 2025 CMS appointment are the most recent political roles cited.
- A photo of Oprah with Dr. Phil at Spago restaurant is dated August 5, 2001 (occurred).
Official Statements & Responses
She emphasized that her friendship with Trump pre-dated his political career, noting her own endorsement of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and a speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
McGraw, speaking on *The Kelly Clarkson Show* in 2022, thanked Winfrey for the friendship that “changed my life a lot,” and reiterated his gratitude in a 2022 letter to her.
Oz’s earlier public positions—supporting mandatory health care in 2009 and later reversing on transgender youth issues in 2022—illustrate the shift that has drawn criticism toward both men.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He explained practical things like colon cancer and bowel movements,” — Oprah Winfrey
- “The fact of the matter is we have people dying, 45,000 people a year die from automobile accidents, 480,000 from cigarettes, 360,000 a year from swimming pools, but we don’t shut the country down for that,” — Dr. Phil McGraw
- “People criticize me for Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, because of their politics or their views,” — Oprah Winfrey
- “He would ride in the car with me every morning on the way to trial, where I’m literally sitting on trial for six weeks.” — Oprah Winfrey
These excerpts capture Oprah’s rationale, McGraw’s pandemic-era commentary, the public criticism she acknowledges, and McGraw’s personal recollection of supporting her during the 1998 trial.
