President Donald Trump was forced to cut a speech short and rush from the podium for a ‘medical emergency.’
What was expected to be a routine White House press conference abruptly ended when chaos erupted.
The incident occurred as Trump swore in Dr. Mehmet Oz as the new administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Videos of the incident have circulated on social media, shared by figures such as far-right activist Laura Loomer.
As the event came to a close, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was seen urging reporters to vacate the room.
The event’s live broadcast was abruptly cut, with the screen going black and confusion setting in.
According to FOX News and several eyewitness reports, one of Dr. Oz’s granddaughters, 11-year-old Philomena, is said to have collapsed during the ceremony.
Trump momentarily stepped away from the podium to assess the situation, while Dr. Oz rushed to his granddaughter’s side.
His wife, Lisa Oz, and their children, including Daphne, Oliver, Arabella, and Zoe, were also present during the incident.
As panic spread, Dr. Oz’s daughter could be heard exclaiming: “Philo fainted, Philo fainted. Dad, go!”
White House aides promptly ushered out reporters with the strict instructions: “Get out right now” and “No photos.”
Though the cameras missed the actual incident, later footage showed family members helping a visibly weak Philomena as they exited the room.
A White House spokesperson later confirmed the nature of the emergency, stating: “A minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz’s swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office. We are happy to say she is okay.”
Dr. Oz, once host of The Dr. Oz Show, has faced scrutiny for some of his past medical advice.
A 2014 BMJ study, cited by NBC news, found that nearly half the recommendations on his show lacked scientific support.
One infamous claim from 2012 involved calling green coffee extract a ‘magic weight loss cure’ – a statement that later came under fire from the Federal Trade Commission.
Despite his controversial past, Dr. Oz’s appointment to CMS was confirmed earlier this month with a 53-45 Senate vote
