U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and Fox News contributor, as his nominee for the position of U.S. Surgeon General. This decision marks his third nomination for the role, following the withdrawal of Casey Means’ nomination.
The announcement has sparked a conflict between Trump and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Trump has accused Cassidy of obstructing Means’ nomination, labeling him as a “very disloyal person.” Means, an ally of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., struggled to secure enough support to pass from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, which Cassidy chairs.
With no response yet from Cassidy’s office regarding the accusations or Saphier’s nomination, Means also remains unavailable for comment.
Background on Saphier and Surgeon General Role
The Surgeon General serves as a key voice in promoting public health, providing citizens with vital information about health improvement and disease prevention. Dr. Nicole Saphier is currently the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering and has authored a book titled Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion Dollar Crisis.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Saphier, calling her a “STAR physician” known for her dedication to breast cancer patients. He also expressed confidence that Means would continue to advocate for the Kennedy-led Make America Healthy Again movement despite Cassidy’s opposition.
Kennedy commended Means as a powerful supporter of the movement and accused Cassidy of defending entrenched interests by delaying her nomination, stating that Means would stay closely affiliated with the initiative.
Challenges in Filling the Position
Means was Trump’s second nominee for the Surgeon General role, replacing Janette Nesheiwat, whose nomination was withdrawn in May following challenges from far-right activists. Means faced significant scrutiny during her confirmation hearing in February, where both Democrats and some Republicans, including Cassidy, questioned her views on vaccines, birth control, and public health policies.
Though Means acknowledged the importance of vaccines in infectious disease strategies, she did not refute a discredited claim connecting vaccines to autism, which has been promoted by Kennedy and his supporters.
Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the watchdog organization Public Citizen, labeled the withdrawal of Means’ nomination as a major 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.”
Contrastingly, Saphier holds an active medical license and has received specialized training from the Mayo Clinic. She also aligns with some aspects of the Kennedy-led movement, particularly in her discussions about using lifestyle choices to prevent chronic diseases.
