Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Bevan Hurley

Trump admits he backed Dr Oz for Senate seat because he called him a ‘healthy specimen’

Getty Images

Donald Trump has admitted he backed Mehmet Oz for the vacant Pennsylvania Senate seat because the TV doctor once called him a “healthy specimen”.

In an interview with One America News, the former president revealed he had been swayed to support Dr Oz in the Republican primary due to flattering remarks.

“I know Oz for a long time and he’s been very nice to me over the years,” Mr Trump said.

“And that, you know, influences you in all fairness. I’ve really liked him. I’ve been on his show.

“He always treated me well. He said I’m a very healthy specimen which I liked very much. He said ‘if you lost a couple of pounds that would be OK too’, but that’s alright.”

Mr Trump’s endorsement of the Turkish-American heart surgeon sealed his narrow win over former hedge fund chief executive David McCormick by a margin of less than 1,000 votes in last month’s primary.

Dr Oz will face Democrat John Fetterman in the general election in November.

Mr Fetterman has relentlessly attacked Dr Oz for his loose ties to Pennsylvania on social media since winning the Democratic nomination in a landslide, mocking the veteran television host as an out-of-touch carpetbagger.

Donald Trump says he likes Dr Oz because the TV doctor called him a ‘healthy specimen' (Twitter)

Dr Oz first appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2004 as a guest medical expert before hosting his own television show for 13 seasons.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.