At a rally on October 27, 2024, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Dr. Phil McGraw, a well-acknowledged television personality and psychologist, gave a loud statement of support for Donald Trump’s campaign. This has been another huge moment in support of Trump’s campaign as he works to nail down support within a state that has traditionally gone Democratic.
Dr. Phil’s comments on Trump
Dr. Phil described Trump as “tough as an old Army boot,” referring to how much criticism and challenges the man had been able to endure without any significant setbacks. To wit, Dr. Phil said, “I’m here not just to endorse him, but I’m here to do this,” referring to what he described as the silencing of Trump supporters in America. McGraw argued that those who agree with Trump in one way or another are often “canceled, intimidated, marginalized, excluded or even fired or boycotted,” an issue part of what he called “cancel culture.” Free speech was another issue that Dr. Phil talked about in his speech, where he cited the First Amendment and rising censorship. He criticized how the media treated celebrity endorsements, mentioning that while Trump’s supporters were being reprimanded by the media, celebrities coming out in favor of Democratic candidates such as Kamala Harris faced zero coverage. The comments received applause among Trump supporters.
Scandalized claims and backlash
While many cheered the endorsement of Dr. Phil at the rally, the response to this was a significant amount of backlash online. His comments in particular against the DEI initiatives reached a boiling point from a number of civil rights organizations and people on social media for the conflicted mess his statement created. Critics noted that Dr. Phil’s fame was enabled by Oprah Winfrey, one of the most visible and vocal diversifiers in American media.
The NAACP immediately responded that Dr. Phil’s perpetuating narrative that America was built only on hard work and talent ignores a century of the struggle by marginalized communities to survive. They further urged him to tell a more complete story about the labor of Black and immigrant communities who have always been exploited.
Atmosphere at the rally
The rally itself was marked by both entertainment and controversy, with several speakers telling jokes some heard as racist or misogynistic. The atmosphere was charged, as Trump supporters rallied around themes of nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiments. All this set the stage for Dr. Phil’s comments, which resonated with the many attendees who themselves feel similarly ostracized.
Trump’s campaign has tried to balance energizing his base while attempting to appeal to undecided voters in critical demographics. The divisive rhetoric used at the rally risks turning off would-be supporters who are put off by such extreme statements.
Impact on Trump’s campaign
At the same time, an endorsement from Dr. Phil could mean a great deal for Trump’s campaign as it tries to find its way through the often Byzantine political landscape just days before Election Day. By aligning himself with the highly popular figure of McGraw, perhaps Trump has set his sights on undecided voters who hold a certain amount of respect for Dr. Phil’s public persona.
But the backlash against McGraw also points to a potential liability for Trump: how to avoid alienating moderate voters who might be turned off by controversy-laden endorsements and divisive rhetoric. In the final days of the election, both campaigns are hitting the state hard; how each handles public perception will be key.
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