If you were scrolling through social media during the final stretch of the 2024 election, you probably saw a clip of Dr. Phil McGraw standing on a stage that looked a lot like a rock concert. It wasn't his usual daytime TV set with the comfortable chairs and the "get real" interventions. He was at Madison Square Garden. The crowd was massive. And the man he was there to talk about was Donald Trump.
Naturally, the internet did what the internet does. People immediately started asking: does dr phil endorse donald trump?
👉 See also: Who are Sabrina Carpenter’s parents? The real story behind the Espresso star’s family tree
The answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no" like you’d get on a polygraph test. It's actually a lot weirder than that. While he stood on that stage and spoke for nearly 20 minutes, his actual words—and his follow-up interviews—paint a picture of a guy who is trying to walk a very thin tightrope between being a political surrogate and a "neutral" media mogul.
The Madison Square Garden Moment
On October 27, 2024, Dr. Phil took the mic at one of the most controversial rallies in recent memory. You might remember it for the comedian who made the "island of garbage" joke about Puerto Rico. But before all that chaos peaked, Dr. Phil was there to give what many saw as a full-throated endorsement.
He called Trump "tough as an old army boot." He talked about how Trump has been "impeached, indicted, raided, railroaded, shot, and sued," yet he’s still standing. To the average viewer, that sounds like a campaign speech. Honestly, if you're speaking at a candidate's biggest rally of the year, most people are going to assume you’re on the team.
But Dr. Phil, being the master of semantics that he is, tried to frame it differently.
Why He Says It Wasn't an "Endorsement"
Here is where it gets kind of confusing. Even after that speech, Dr. Phil went on Piers Morgan Uncensored and claimed he doesn't actually endorse candidates. He basically said he doesn't believe celebrities should tell people how to vote because they don't know enough about policy.
So why was he there?
- The "Bully" Argument: He spent a huge chunk of his time arguing that Trump isn't a bully. His logic? Bullying requires an "imbalance of power." Since Trump's opponents have microphones, money, and platforms, Dr. Phil argues it’s just a "fair fight."
- The Snub: He told Piers Morgan that he actually reached out to Kamala Harris’s campaign about 25 times to offer her an interview or a similar platform. He says they never got back to him. According to him, his appearance at the Trump rally was an "act of rebellion" against being ignored by the other side.
- The Anti-Cancel Culture Angle: He focused heavily on the idea that Trump supporters are the ones being bullied. He used words like "marginalized" and "cancelled" to describe people who are afraid to say they like Trump in public.
The Merit Street Connection
You've probably noticed Dr. Phil isn't on CBS anymore. He launched his own network, Merit Street Media. This is a huge part of the does dr phil endorse donald trump conversation because his new platform has been very friendly to the former president.
He did a massive, hour-long sit-down interview with Trump at Mar-a-Lago where they talked about "revenge" and the legal cases against him. It wasn't exactly a hard-hitting interrogation. It felt more like a conversation between two guys who feel like the "legacy media" has treated them both unfairly.
Recently, in 2025 and moving into 2026, this relationship has only deepened. After Trump took office again, reports surfaced about Dr. Phil joining a "Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty." This moves the needle from "I'm just a journalist" to "I'm part of the administration."
What Most People Get Wrong
People tend to think Dr. Phil is just another Hollywood Republican. But he really leans into this "common sense" branding. He talks about DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and says the country was built on "hard work and talent," not "equal outcomes."
📖 Related: Danielle Fisher Explained: How Old Is the Record-Breaking Climber Today?
He’s savvy. He knows his audience. The people who watched him for 20 years on daytime TV are the same people Trump is talking to. By saying "I don't endorse," he keeps a tiny bit of distance for his brand, even while he’s literally standing in the middle of a MAGA rally.
The Actionable Takeaway
If you're trying to figure out where he stands, don't look at his "official" statements—look at his actions.
- Watch the merit: If you want to see the unedited version of his stance, watch his interviews on Merit Street. He’s much more open there than he is on network TV.
- Separate the person from the policy: Dr. Phil often says you don't have to love everything about a person to support them. That’s his way of dodging questions about Trump’s more controversial tweets or comments.
- Expect a formal role: With his involvement in commissions and advisory boards in 2026, don't be surprised if he becomes a frequent face in the White House circle, regardless of whether he ever uses the word "endorse" again.
Ultimately, Dr. Phil has positioned himself as a defender of the Trump voter more than the man himself, but in the world of politics, that's a distinction without much of a difference. He has used his massive platform to validate Trump's narrative of being a victim of the system, which, for many, is the ultimate endorsement.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
- Check the Commission Rosters: Keep an eye on the official White House appointments for 2026. If Dr. Phil is formally named to a commission, his "neutral" status is officially over.
- Audit Merit Street Media: Look at the guest list. If the network continues to host primarily one side of the political aisle, it’s a clear indicator of the brand's direction.
- Compare the "Bully" Logic: Research the clinical definition of bullying that Dr. Phil used for years on his show and see if it actually matches the "imbalance of power" argument he made at the rally.