Former US President Donald Trump has endorsed Dr Mehmet Oz for the Republican nomination for the US Senate in Pennsylvania, praising the TV doctor's long-running daytime show as evidence of popular appeal. Trump made the announcement in a statement before a rally in Selma, North Carolina, and reiterated his support during the event, saying being on television for 18 years is 'like a poll' indicating public approval.
The endorsement could test Trump's influence over the Republican Party, as many on the pro-Trump hard right question Oz's conservative credentials. Prominent figures such as former White House adviser Steve Bannon have criticised Oz, calling him 'the most anti-Maga guy' and highlighting his past residence in New Jersey and ties to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Oz faces a competitive primary against hedge fund executive David McCormick, with polls showing them evenly matched. The winner is likely to face Democrat John Fetterman, the current lieutenant governor, in the general election. The Senate is currently split 50-50, with control at stake in November.
Trump's endorsement has been portrayed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as divisive, with a spokesperson saying it will intensify an already 'nasty, expensive and brutal' primary. Oz has also faced scrutiny over his TV career, including a 2014 Senate hearing where he admitted some promoted products lacked 'scientific muster', and a 2015 letter from doctors accusing him of promoting 'quack treatments'.
