In a significant shake-up within his administration, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Dr. Nicole Saphier as his nominee for U.S. Surgeon General. This decision follows the withdrawal of Casey Means, marking the third nominee for the position under Trump’s leadership.
The announcement has sparked tensions between Trump and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who has been accused by Trump of obstructing Means’ nomination. The President labeled Cassidy a “very disloyal person” for his role in blocking the nomination.
Means, a supporter of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., struggled to garner the necessary votes to advance her nomination in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, chaired by Cassidy. In addition, Means, who is not a practicing physician, is closely associated with the Make America Healthy Again movement, which has been criticized for its stance against vaccines. Her brother, Calley Means, is an employee at the White House.
Cassidy’s office did not provide comments regarding Trump’s assertions or the nomination of Saphier, while Means was also unavailable for immediate response.
Dr. Nicole Saphier currently serves as a radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering and has authored multiple books, including “Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion Dollar Crisis.” In a statement on Truth Social, Trump praised Saphier as a “STAR physician” who has dedicated her career to supporting women diagnosed with breast cancer, while emphasizing her advocacy for early detection and prevention.
Despite Cassidy’s attempted delays, Trump assured that Means would continue to pursue critical health issues under the Kennedy-led movement, referring to her as a significant advocate who will persist in her endeavors.
Kennedy himself lauded Means as a key proponent of the Make America Healthy Again movement, condemning Cassidy for what he characterized as catering to entrenched interests by hindering her nomination.
This marks Trump’s third attempt to fill the Surgeon General role; he previously withdrew the nomination of Janette Nesheiwat in May. Both of these attempts faced strong opposition from far-right activists.
During her February confirmation hearing, Means faced intense scrutiny from both Democrats and some Republicans, including Cassidy, due to her views on significant public health issues, including vaccines and potential financial conflicts of interest. While she recognized the importance of vaccines in public health strategy, she notably refrained from dismissing discredited claims linking vaccines to autism.
Lisa Gilbert, co-president of watchdog group Public Citizen, described the withdrawal of Means’ nomination as a victory for public health, stating, “Casey Means is unqualified and unfit to be Surgeon General and the withdrawal of her nomination is a win for the American public.”
In contrast to Means, Dr. Saphier holds an active medical license and specializes in breast imaging. She obtained her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados and completed fellowships at the renowned Mayo Clinic. Her published work also aligns with the Kennedy-led movement, focusing on the prevention of chronic diseases through lifestyle changes.
