American television icon Oprah Winfrey has rejected criticism that she should be held responsible for the political directions taken by Dr Phil McGraw and Dr Mehmet Oz after she helped launch their television careers.
Winfrey said she invited both men onto The Oprah Winfrey Show because she believed their expertise and communication skills could benefit her audience—not because of political positions they adopted years later.
“People criticise me for Dr Phil and Dr Oz because of their politics or their views,” she told Emmy Magazine in an interview published on 11 August.
McGraw first appeared on Winfrey’s programme in 1998 after helping her during a six-week libel trial.
Winfrey described him as practical, down-to-earth and instrumental in helping her cope with the legal proceedings.
She said his ability to offer straightforward advice convinced her that he could help other people through appearances on her show.
Gayle King later introduced Winfrey to Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon who made his debut on the programme in 2004.
Winfrey said Oz could explain complicated medical subjects in language that ordinary viewers could easily understand.
She believed his ability to discuss issues such as colon cancer and digestive health would be valuable to a wider audience.
“Everybody has their own path in life, and it has not one thing to do with me,” Winfrey said. People
She maintained that her sole intention at the time was to share information that had been personally meaningful and useful to her.
Following his appearances, McGraw launched Dr Phil in 2002. The daytime programme ran for 21 seasons before ending in 2023.
The Dr Oz Show premiered in 2009 and aired for 13 seasons before concluding in 2022.
Both men subsequently became prominent supporters of US President Donald Trump.
Oz currently serves as the 17th administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under the Trump administration. CMS
McGraw endorsed Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign and later supported his immigration policies.
The television personality also accompanied US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during an operation in Chicago in January 2025. Reuters
Winfrey, however, has maintained a sharply different political position.
She endorsed former Vice-President Kamala Harris during the 2024 Democratic National Convention and urged voters to prioritise decency, respect, values and character when choosing the country’s leadership.
