‘Made-For-TV’: CNN’s Brian Stelter Reports Dr. Phil Attended Migrant Crackdown That Sparked LA Riots

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Dr. Phil McGraw was reportedly embedded with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers for raids on the ground in Los Angeles Friday that triggered furious protests across the city.

According to CNN media analyst Brian Stelter, McGraw was present with his camera crew following agents during Friday’s coordinated raids. Footage of the sweep is set to air on Dr. Phil Primetime, a broadcast on Merit TV, a network with which the celebrity psychologist is now associated.

According to the network, McGraw joined the raids “to get a first-hand look at the targeted operations.” He also filmed a “promotional” interview with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan. McGraw has followed ICE teams on raids before, which, Stelter argued, is part of a wider administration strategy.

“McGraw’s presence on the ground in L.A. reinforces the made-for-TV nature of Trump’s immigration crackdown,” Stelter wrote Monday.

He continued: “Trump officials have repeatedly tried to maximize television and online attention around immigration enforcement activities this year. [Tom] Homan and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are regulars on Fox News and other Trump-aligned TV networks. They also frequently publicize ICE actions on X and other social media platforms.”

Within hours of ICE’s actions on Friday, however, violent protests, which are ongoing four days later, broke out across L.A. Protesters have torched driverless vehicles, looted businesses, and waved Mexican flags in the streets. At the same time, police responded with rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash bangs, prompting criticism from civil rights groups and local officials.

Over the weekend, Trump authorised the deployment of the National Guard to support the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) efforts. The move resulted in a war of words between the White House and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who accused the president of stoking “chaos and violence” and behaving like a “dictator.”

Trump, meanwhile, has demanded apologies from both Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, accusing them of mishandling the unrest.