Trump endorses Dr. Oz for Senate

Former President Donald Trump on Saturday endorsed Dr. Mehmet Oz, a Republican running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Trump’s spokesperson Liz Harrington announced the endorsement on Twitter Saturday, just before the former president announced the endorsement to the crowd attending his campaign-style rally in Selma, North Carolina.

“This is all about winning elections in order to stop the Radical Left maniacs from destroying our Country,” the statement on Twitter reads. “The Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a tremendous opportunity to Save America by electing the brilliant and well-known Dr. Mehmet Oz for the United States Senate.”

During his speech in North Carolina, Mr. Trump praised Mr. Oz’s career, adding that his success on television will serve him well with voters.

“He’s a good man,” Mr. Trump said. “Harvard educated. Tremendous, tremendous career, and they liked him for a long time. That’s like a poll. When you’re on television for 18 years, that’s like a poll. That means people like you.” 

Mr. Oz, host of the syndicated “The Dr. Oz Show,” carries significant name recognition in the race for the open seat after the retirement of Republican senator Pat Toomey — one of seven Republicans in the Senate who voted to convict Mr. Trump in February 2021 following Mr. Trump’s impeachment after a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol the month prior over objections to the November 2020 election results.

Mr. Trump initially endorsed Sean Parnell for the seat before Mr. Parnell dropped out of the race after being accused of abuse by his former wife.

Mr. Oz recently met with Mr. Trump in Mar-a-Lago. Former hedge fund CEO David McCormick, a fellow Republican contender, has also met with Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump, who remains popular among Republican voters, could have significant sway over the race with his endorsement.

The former president has remained powerful in U.S. politics since leaving office and is dead set on a Republican takeover in Congress following the 2022 midterms.

“This is the year we’re going to take back the House,” he said at Saturday’s rally. “We’re going to take back the Senate. And We’re going to take back America.”

Mr. Trump also spoke in favor of Rep. Ted Budd, a North Carolina Republican who is running for retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr’s seat against former Republican North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory. Mr. Budd secured Mr. Trump’s endorsement in June.

Mr. Trump also continued to fuel intrigue on Saturday over his plans to run for office in 2024, as he has done in nearly every public appearance this year but stopped short of officially announcing his bid.

“The truth is, I ran twice, I won twice, and I did much better the second time,” Mr. Trump told the crowd. “And now we just may have to do it again.”

“Is there anybody here who would like to see me run again?” he said before the cheering crowd.

This story is based in part on wire service reports.