In a significant shake-up, U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed radiologist and Fox News contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier as his nominee for U.S. Surgeon General. This announcement comes after Trump withdrew the nomination of Casey Means, marking his third attempt to fill the crucial public health position.
Trump’s decision is set against the backdrop of a conflict with Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, whom Trump accused of obstructing Means’ nomination, labeling him as “a very disloyal person.” Means, an ally of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., struggled to secure sufficient support from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, which Cassidy chairs.
Means has faced criticism for her ties to the anti-vaccine movement through her affiliation with the Make America Healthy Again initiative. Her brother, Calley Means, is part of the White House’s circle. Cassidy’s office has not commented on the accusations made by Trump nor Saphier’s new nomination.
Dr. Nicole Saphier, who works at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, has authored several books, including “Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion Dollar Crisis.” Trump praised her qualifications, highlighting her dedication to advocating for early cancer detection and prevention. He described Saphier as a “STAR physician” who has devoted her career to supporting women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Despite the setback for Means, Trump expressed confidence that she would continue to advocate for the health initiative led by Kennedy. In a previous post, he stated that Means would remain committed to fighting for critical health issues facing the nation.
Kennedy defended Means, calling her a significant supporter of his movement and accusing Cassidy of serving the interests of entrenched lobbyists by delaying her confirmation.
This marks Trump’s third attempt to appoint a Surgeon General. His first nominee, Janette Nesheiwat, was withdrawn earlier this year amidst opposition from far-right factions, including activist Laura Loomer.
During her confirmation hearing in February, Means faced tough questioning from both Democratic and Republican senators about her controversial views on vaccines and public health policies. While she acknowledged the importance of vaccines in public health strategy, she did not fully reject debunked claims linking vaccines to autism, which are championed by the Kennedy-led movement.
Following the withdrawal of Means’ nomination, Lisa Gilbert, co-president of watchdog organization Public Citizen, described it as a victory for public health, asserting that Means was unqualified for the role.
In contrast, Saphier holds an active medical license and is the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She earned her doctor of medicine degree from Ross University School of Medicine and completed fellowships at the Mayo Clinic. Like Means, Saphier shares some perspectives with the Kennedy movement, focusing on chronic disease prevention through lifestyle changes.
