Oprah Winfrey has publicly distanced herself from television personalities Dr. Phil McGraw and Dr. Mehmet Oz, citing their political leanings and alignment with former President Donald Trump.
"Everybody has their own path in life, and it has not one thing to do with me, and I don’t have one thing to do with them," Winfrey told Emmy magazine in an interview published last Tuesday. She acknowledged that her role in launching their careers has drawn criticism.
Winfrey, who was instrumental in introducing both McGraw and Oz to a wide audience on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and whose Harpo Productions helped develop their stand-alone television brands, stated her initial intention was based on their perceived valuable insights. McGraw's relationship with Winfrey dates to 1998 when he assisted her during a trial in Texas. He appeared on her show 118 times, and his first book, "Life Strategies," became a bestseller with Winfrey's endorsement. "Dr. Phil" premiered in 2002 as a spin-off.
McGraw's public profile has increasingly featured political activity. He appeared at a Trump campaign rally in October 2024, defended Trump and his supporters, and accompanied Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel on an operation. Trump also appointed McGraw to his Religious Liberty Commission in May of last year.
Dr. Oz, a heart surgeon, was introduced to Winfrey by Gayle King. Winfrey believed Oz possessed a unique ability to explain complex medical topics to a general audience. He became a recurring medical expert on "Oprah" starting in 2004, leading to "The Dr. Oz Show," co-produced by Harpo and Sony. Winfrey's company also co-founded the digital health company Sharecare with Oz and other partners.
However, Oz's political career has seen a more explicit divergence. He ran for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania as a conservative Republican in 2022, receiving an endorsement from Trump in the GOP primary. Winfrey publicly endorsed Oz's opponent, Democrat John Fetterman, shortly before the election. Oz later joined the Trump administration, being confirmed as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in April 2025.
In contrast to McGraw and Oz, Winfrey has consistently backed Democratic candidates, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Kamala Harris, and campaigned for Stacey Abrams. While describing herself as a registered independent, her endorsements have leaned Democratic.