Television talk show host and author Dr. Phil McGraw was with a TV crew covering Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Los Angeles that sparked widespread rioting over the weekend.
McGraw had exclusive access to Department of Homeland Security officials, including with Tom Homan, President Donald Trump's point man for mass deportations and border security, "the day before and day after the LA operation," CNN reported Monday, citing a spokesperson for McGraw's MeritTV network.
The ICE raids resulted in dozens of illegal immigrants being detained and sparked widespread rioting in Los Angeles, forcing Trump to call in National Guard troops to quell the situation and protect law enforcement officials.
McGraw and a TV crew were embedded with ICE officials in Chicago in January at the start of Trump's second term. The MeritTV spokesperson told CNN this time it was different.
"In order to not escalate any situation, Dr. Phil McGraw did not join and was not embedded" during the Los Angeles raids, the spokesperson said.
Instead, he was at a field office and had face time with Homan. The conversations will air on "Dr. Phil Primetime" on Monday and Tuesday night.
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.