In a significant shift in the nomination for U.S. Surgeon General, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has selected Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and Fox News contributor, for the position. This decision comes after the withdrawal of Casey Means, marking the third attempt by Trump to fill this crucial health role.
The nomination of Means faced challenges, specifically from Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, whom Trump accused of obstructing her appointment and labeled as “a very disloyal person.” Means was previously a strong supporter of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but her lack of a practicing medical license and the controversial stance of the Make America Healthy Again movement, which has been critical of vaccines, contributed to the difficulties in advancing her nomination through the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, chaired by Cassidy.
Means was not available for comment, and Cassidy’s office did not quickly respond to inquiries regarding Trump’s statements and Saphier’s appointment. While Trump emphasized that Means would persist in advocating for public health initiatives despite the setback, Cassidy’s influence over the nomination process has been noteworthy.
Dr. Nicole Saphier is well-regarded in her field, serving as the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is the author of the book “Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion Dollar Crisis” and has been active in promoting early detection and prevention of breast cancer. Trump praised her qualifications on social media, declaring her a “STAR physician” dedicated to aiding women battling breast cancer.
This marks Trump’s third attempt to appoint a Surgeon General, as he previously withdrew the nomination of Janette Nesheiwat earlier this year. The withdrawals have been influenced by resistance from both sides of the political aisle concerning the nominees’ views on critical health issues.
While Saphier has been aligned with some of the views espoused by Kennedy’s movement, she holds an active medical license and appears more acceptable to the Senate. Following the intense scrutiny faced by Means during her nomination hearings, which included challenging questions regarding her positions on vaccines and public health strategies, many health advocates have expressed relief at the change in nominees.
Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the watchdog group Public Citizen, remarked that the decision to withdraw Means’ nomination is a positive outcome for public health. “Casey Means is unqualified and unfit to be Surgeon General, and the withdrawal of her nomination is a win for the American public,” she stated.
As the nomination process advances with Dr. Saphier, it remains to be seen how her confirmation will unfold within the Senate.
