Basketball star and outspoken critic of the Chinese Communist Party, Enes Kanter Freedom has called out Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz, known professionally as “Dr. Oz,” over his dual citizenship in Turkey.
Freedom claims that the celebrity doctor and Republican senate hopeful would act as “Erdogan’s arm” if elected to the U.S. Senate.
Freedom has long been a critic of Erdogan, who has tightened his grip on Turkish society and removed political enemies from positions in the government and academia. As a result, the authoritarian Erdogan declared Freedom a terrorist and issued an international arrest warrant for supporting Erdogan critic Fethullah Gulen.
As the Washington Free Beacon reports:
“People need to understand that Dr. Oz is in Erdogan’s pocket. And whatever Erdogan wants, that’s what Dr. Oz is going to do,” Freedom, a Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year, told the Post. “So, if Dr. Oz gets into the Senate, it’s like Erdogan’s arm will be in the Senate.”
Freedom’s dunk on Oz could prove pivotal in the GOP primary. Freedom, who became a naturalized American citizen last year, has become a darling of conservatives over his public criticism of the Chinese Communist Party, the NBA, and superstars like LeBron James. Freedom accused James of ignoring China’s genocide against Uyghurs. Oz is already under fire from some conservatives upset over his past statements supporting abortion rights and gun control laws. Oz has said he no longer supports his past position on those issues.
The Washington Examiner has also looked into Oz’s connections to Turkish business dealings, saying:
The National Review compiled a list of Oz’s business dealings with individuals and organizations viewed as loyal to Erdoğan’s regime in December 2021. Oz said his interactions with top Turkish businessmen and political figures in the past were normal for a Turkish American celebrity like him, adding he “didn’t even donate money to these organizations.”
Oz announced his run for the 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race in November 2021. On Wednesday, the latest Trafalgar poll found Oz leading other GOP candidates with 27.4% of voter support.
Dr. Oz vehemently denied that he would serve as a puppet of Erdogan if elected, telling The Washington Post that he opposes many of Erdogan’s foreign policy decisions. He opposes Turkey’s purchase of the S-400 missile system from Russia. Oz added that he’s against extradition Gulen, the exiled cleric sought by Erdogan.
So, what do you think? Would you support Dr. Oz in the Pennsylvania Senate primary — and why? Tell us in the comments below!