Full Breakdown
Oprah Winfrey Distances Herself from Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz Amid Their Conservative Alignments
8/18/2026, 6:11:12 AM
Core Event
Dr. Phil McGraw and Dr. Mehmet Oz, the two physicians whose careers she helped launch. She said the decision to feature them was based on the practical health information they offered, not on any political considerations.
Background & Context
Both doctors rose to national prominence after appearing on Winfrey’s program. In recent years, their public personas have shifted toward conservative politics. Dr. Oz received an endorsement from President Donald Trump and ran for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022, losing to Sen. John Fetterman. Trump later nominated Oz for Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Senate confirmed the appointment in 2025. Dr. Phil has not formally endorsed a party but appeared at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally in October 2024 and accompanied ICE personnel during Chicago immigration raids alongside Trump’s border czar Tom Homan.
Official Statements & Responses
Phil rode with her to court, describing him as “practical, down-to-earth, so real.” She added that Oz explained medical topics such as colon cancer in a way she found helpful. According to Winfrey, her original intent in giving them exposure was to share valuable health information, not to shape their future political paths.
Criticism & Opposition
Curtis Houck, managing editor of Media Research Center’s NewsBusters, argued that Winfrey’s actions reveal a partisan stance. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Oprah wants us to feel bad for woke Prince Harry and Meghan or the woman in the Coldplay kiss cam.” — Curtis Houck
