Did Trump Make a Mistake Endorsing Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania’s Senate Race?

During Trump’s rally in Selma on Saturday night, the former President made a rather controversial but not unexpected endorsement in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. Dr. Mehmet Oz, more commonly known as Dr. Oz, a successful daytime television personality and successful media conglomerate in and of himself, announced some months back he’s running for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, joining a crowded GOP field.

Oz has been friends with the former president for quite some time, even having Trump appear on his show for a health physical at one point. There are also rumors that former first lady Melania Trump is a strong fan of Dr. Oz.

The problem, however, for many Trump supporters and conservatives, in general, is that Dr. Oz has a history of being very liberal on key positions such as gun control, abortion, and now even new controversies like transgender therapies for children under 18.

Here’s Trump name-dropping Oz on Saturday night during the rally:

Trump made the endorsement official over the weekend by releasing a statement:

Former president Donald Trump has endorsed fellow TV personality-turned-politician Dr. Mehmet Oz for the U.S. Senate ahead of the Republican primary in Pennsylvania.

“This is all about winning elections in order to stop the Radical Left maniacs from destroying our Country,” Trump said in a statement promoting the celebrity heart surgeon-turned-politician this weekend. “I have known Dr. Oz for many years, as have many others, even if only through his very successful television show. He has lived with us through the screen and has always been popular, respected, and smart.”

The former president also praised Dr. Oz’s medical and academic credentials, adding, “He even said that I was in extraordinary health, which made me like him even more (although he also said I should lose a couple of pounds!).”

The backlash from conservatives, and many ardent Trump supporters, was quick and furious. The accusations against Oz and his lack of conservative credentials coupled with years of footage from his show where he has taken many liberal positions on key issues opened up the floodgates. Many have also pointed out that Dr. Oz isn’t actually from Pennsylvania and only established residency there to launch a Senate campaign.

Here are some examples collected from Twitter.

User John Cardillo wrote comparing Dr. Oz to the “Mitt Romney” of Pennsylvania, someone who will not stick with conservatives once he’s elected:

Trump’s endorsement of Dr. Oz is inexcusable.

He just put his political capital behind an anti-gun pro-abortion open borders Hollywood liberal.

Oz will be another Mitt Romney in the Senate.

— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) April 10, 2022

One heavily weighted Twitter poll indicated that, among MAGA loyalists, the endorsement of Dr. Oz was not well-received:

POLL QUESTION: Was Dr. Oz a good endorsement for President Trump to make in Pennsylvania?

cc: @realLizUSA #MAGA

— TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) April 10, 2022

User Jack Posobiec points out that Dr. Oz did an entire episode many years back on promoting transgenderism surgery for children, a hot-button issue dovetailing with the recent Disney revelations:

BREAKING: Here is Dr Oz promoting transgenderism in children. In the full episode he even promotes surgery for children

This is not very conservative, Doc! pic.twitter.com/qZYs6TVQew

— Jack Posobiec ?? (@JackPosobiec) April 11, 2022

Some people were more forgiving, indicating that it’s not expected every Trump backer will agree with every move the former president makes and that people are free to disagree or vote their own preference:

I voted for Trump.
Trump endorsed Dr. Oz.
I disagree with that endorsement.
And if you do too, that's okay.

Because unlike the Left, those of us on the Right actually think freely. And that's a good thing.

— Damani Felder (@TheDamaniFelder) April 10, 2022

It would be entirely unlikely that Trump would un-endorse a candidate unless that candidate turns on Trump in some way. Trump has said he believes his endorsement is all about winning the Senate, and that Dr. Oz has the best shot to do so given his name recognization and his strong demographic support among women.

Polling indicates that Oz was already doing well, thanks likely to his name recognition, and was the favorite to win the Republican senate primary coming up on May 17. Trump’s endorsement will likely help put him well over the top among GOP primary voters in the Keystone State.