Former daytime talk show host Phil McGraw posted a video of himself on a ride-along with immigration agents in Chicago as they conducted targeted enforcement operations aimed at apprehending known criminals and terrorists. The video, broadcast on McGraw’s network Merit Street Media, featured Trump administration border czar Thomas Homan debunking the false narrative that immigration authorities target people of different colors through neighborhood sweeps. McGraw was shown questioning a man who appeared to be undocumented and convicted of sex crimes with children. This incident occurred as President Trump promised the largest mass deportation plan in U.S. history, resulting in nearly 1,200 arrests in a single day, with almost half of the detained individuals having no criminal record.
In a context where immigration advocates are warning people about their rights during encounters with authorities, McGraw’s video stirred controversy as it portrayed an enforcement action by ICE agents. The video also included insights on how Trump utilized reality TV and celebrity culture to propel himself into politics, referencing his appearances on various TV shows before launching “The Apprentice.” McGraw, who ended his daytime show in 2023, spoke at a Trump rally in 2016 but claimed it was not an endorsement. Trump’s utilization of modern media formats during his 2024 campaign, similar to McGraw’s use of his own media network, highlighted the evolving landscape of communication between political figures and the public.
Contributions to this report were made by Jonathan Allen.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.