MAGA dentist faces backlash over jokes about liberal patients

Santa Clarita, Calif. — A California dentist who describes herself as a 'MAGA dentist' is facing renewed criticism after a 2021 speech in which she described making dental treatments for liberal patients more painful. The remarks came to light after footage from the Republican Liberty Gala in 2021 circulated on social media, prompting a fresh look at her statements and conduct.

Dr. Harleen Grewal, who operates Skyline Smiles in Santa Clarita, drew attention to MAGA merchandise during the speech, saying she often wears a hat that reads 'Make Your Smile Great Again' and would gauge patients' reactions to political items during procedures. In the video, she joked that when patients looked horrified, she would quiet the laughing gas and tell them, 'you got this, it’s not as bad as you think it is,' adding, 'I stole that from Joe Biden.' Grewal has asserted that the comments were jokes for a Republican crowd and taken out of context.

The resurfacing of the remarks touched off a broader discussion about the intersection of politics and medical practice. Grewal said she began engaging in politics soon after opening her clinic in 2015 and later used the practice as a hub to help register patients to vote. She told a podcast, 'Voice of the Future,' that she became politically involved and followed President Trump, viewing involvement in the Republican Party as motivating and encouraging. She said she even started ballot harvesting at her clinic, but stressed that she collected ballots from both Democrats and Republicans because, in her view, everybody should be able to vote. Nevertheless, she said her political activity drew backlash and anonymous complaints, including visits from law enforcement.

Grewal described at least two rounds of inquiry from investigators: first, reports that she was running an illegal ballot harvesting operation out of her clinic; and later, a complaint that she was torturing Democrats. She said she took investigators on a tour of her office to show what she was doing and insisted the practice was legal. She recalled that a California Dental Board investigator later told her they had an anonymous complaint about the 'torturing Democrats' claim, and she said the investigator agreed that her remarks were above board. The dentist said the board visit did not result in sanctions, and that the complaints were attempts to silence her.

The backlash extended to online reviews, with Yelp pages for Skyline Smiles inundated by critics of her remarks and political activities. Some reviewers warned that her professional judgment could be compromised by her political stance, while others said the incident did not reflect the quality of dental care. Daily Mail has contacted Skyline Smiles for comment.

The episode underscores ongoing questions about political expression by health professionals and the potential implications for patient trust, as social media inflames disciplinary and reputational challenges for medical practitioners who mix practice with partisan politics.