Dr. Mehmet Oz watches play during the women's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, in this file photo from Sept. 11, 2021, in New York. Oz is running in the wide-open race for the Pennsylvania seat being vacated by two-term Republican Sen. Pat Toomey. The race has attracted several wealthy and well-connected transplants. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
Though opponents have questioned his credibility as a Republican, Dr. Oz gets the last laugh by landing the coveted endorsement of Donald Trump.
For those leery of Pennsylvania GOP US candidate Dr. Oz due to his murky residential status or some of his more questionable medical advice, another potential red flag has emerged. Donald Trump has endorsed him.
The former president officially backed Oz Saturday. In the written statement announcing his endorsement, Trump emphasized the celebrity surgeon and television host’s electability and success on TV. There was relatively little mention of policy specifics, or why a multi-millionaire media figure from New Jersey who is just entering politics was qualified to represent Pennsylvania in Washington.
Early in the pandemic, Oz’s suggestion that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine could be used to treat COVID-19 caught Trump’s attention. The president became fixated for a time on using the drug as a way to combat the coronavirus, labeling it a potential “game changer.” Research eventually showed that hydroxychloroquine is not an effective treatment for COVID-19.
Oz said he was proud to receive the endorsement.
Being endorsed by a man who incited an insurrection on his way out of office because he lost the presidency to a Democrat doesn’t exactly square with the “Republican In Name Only” (RINO) tag rivals have slapped Oz with.
And it’s sure to be a major disappointment for candidates who lobbied for Trump’s endorsement, like former hedge fund CEO David McCormick, whose wife, Dina Powell, served in Trump’s administration. Or Carla Sands, who served as ambassador to Denmark during Trump’s presidency. Or real estate investor Jeff Bartos, who, when asked recently at a conservative forum if he would like Trump’s endorsement and for him to come to Pennsylvania to campaign for him replied, “Yes. 100%, yes.”
Trump initially endorsed Republican candidate Sean Parnell in Pennsylvania’s US Senate race, but Parnell dropped out amid allegations of abuse from his estranged wife.
After Trump announced his endorsement of Oz, Parnell took to social media to share his disappointment.
Author
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Pennsylvanians and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at The Keystone has always been to empower people across the commonwealth with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Pennsylvania families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
For Rep. Susan Wild, supporting PA families includes reproductive rights and much more
Rep. Susan Wild wants to be very clear with Pennsylvanians: Donald Trump is committed to taking away women’s reproductive freedom, but he is not...
School districts working with anti-LGBTQ groups can cost your kids’ schools millions
Parents across South Central Pennsylvania are worried about the potential financial impacts working with anti-LGBTQ groups may have on their school...
VIDEO: Trump distances himself from his anti-abortion views
Donald Trump appeared on WGAL on Tuesday and continued to distance himself from his anti-abortion views claiming that reproductive rights are now a...
VIDEO: Community pushback gets school board to rescind decision on denying gay actor’s visit
Cumberland Valley School Board offered a public apology and voted to reinstate Maulik Pancholy as a guest speaker a week after the board voted to...
VIDEO: Project 2025 brings nuclear armageddon back into vogue
Project 2025 is a titanic document, with plans ranging from cutting half of all government employees to targeting reproductive rights on a scale...
