Dr. Phil supports Trump for president at Madison Square Garden rally

For free, real-time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our breaking news emails

Sign up for our free breaking news emails

Sign up for our free breaking news emails

Phil McGraw, better known as the popular television personality Dr. Phil, has officially endorsed Donald Trump for president.

McGraw, known in the 1990s for his appearances on the television series “ The Oprah Winfrey Showinterviewed the former president on his own show earlier this year and promised to “ask (Trump) some tough questions and get some straight answers.”

The 74-year-old, who lost his license to practice psychology in 2006, appeared at Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City and endorsed the Republican just days before the historic election.

Speaking to the crowd of Trump supporters, McGraw said he was “not just here to advocate for Donald J. Trump.” God knows he doesn't need me to intercede for him. He's as tough as an old army boot. He has many enemies, different groups that are afraid, and they have accused him, accused him, raided him, harassed him, shot him and sued him. And where is he? He’s still standing.”

McGraw said that he doesn't “like or agree with everything Donald J. Trump does or says,” but that “no human being is perfect” and that we strive not for “perfection” but for “excellence.”

He used much of his speech to defend Trump supporters who he claimed were being “dismissed, intimidated, marginalized, excluded or even fired or boycotted,” and then used his professional opinion to declare that Trump not be a “bully”.

He said Trump couldn't be a tyrant because “there has to be an imbalance of power, and when there isn't, you just call it a debate, and he's just better at it than anyone else.”

McGraw also attacked figures such as Beyoncé, George Clooney, Robert De Niro and Lizzo, who he said had not received backlash from the media for their support of Kamala Harris, but said: “Look what happens tomorrow morning when people find out that I came here to talk to you”.

He also spread a conspiracy theory that CBS News shows 60 minutes edited her interview with Harris, which Trump had previously distributed.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/month. after free trial. The plan automatically renews until canceled

Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/month. after free trial. The plan automatically renews until canceled

Try for free

In response to the allegations, CBS News said that the claims were “false” and that: “60 minutes gave an excerpt from our interview Face the nation that used a longer section of her answer than this 60 minutes. Same question. Same answer.”

The statement continued: “But another part of the answer. When we edit interviews, be it with politicians, athletes or movie stars, we make sure to be clear, precise and to the point. The part of her answer to 60 minutes was more concise, which leaves time for other topics in a wide-ranging 21-minute segment.”