Just two months before being selected as President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Nicole Saphier suggested the administration was concealing information about the significant spread of measles in the United States, potentially impacting the country’s “elimination” status until after the midterm elections, reports BritPanorama.
<p“In March, Saphier wrote, ‘Seems like they may not want to admit the U.S. Measles elimination status is gone until after midterm elections.’”
Her comment has gained attention as it reflects her critical stance towards the administration’s health policies. That post has since been deleted, along with numerous others from Saphier’s X account that criticized various health-related decisions and even targeted Trump personally.
Deleted social media posts reviewed by CNN’s KFile indicate that Saphier frequently diverged from Trump and US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on sensitive health issues, including matters regarding vaccines and autism. She also raised questions about Trump’s own health and expressed dissatisfaction with the administration’s transparency.
Currently, Saphier is a radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and has made her X account private. Her deleted posts remain accessible through the Internet Archive Wayback Machine, and their removal was verified when her still-visible account was checked against the archive.
A self-identified Trump supporter since his initial term, Saphier shared a tweet on Inauguration Day 2025 that expressed gratitude for her experiences during his administration, stating, “It’s been a wild 8 years and I’m grateful to have been a part of it.”
Saphier, 44, has authored several books, including “Make America Healthy Again” published in 2020 and “Panic Attack: Playing Politics with Science in the Fight Against COVID-19” published in 2021, alongside hosting a podcast titled “Wellness Unmasked.” She is also the founder of DropRx, a supplement company.
Her nomination as surgeon general follows the withdrawal of the nominations of former Fox News contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat and wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means. A White House spokesperson remarked that “Dr. Nicole Saphier is an accomplished physician” who would be a tremendous asset to the President’s agenda on public health matters.
Tweets took aim at Trump
Saphier has made headlines for her critical social media posts, including acute observations during Trump’s public disputes. In one deleted post from June 2025, she characterized his clashes with Elon Musk as “petty, loud, & obnoxious,” comparing the situation to children arguing in a sandbox.
She has also criticized Trump’s comments about Tylenol use during pregnancy, highlighting the importance of clear, factual guidance over unproven claims. “As a mom of 3 kids, I don’t love a man telling me to ‘tough it out’ when it comes to pregnancy. Words matter,” she wrote in a now-deleted September post.
Additionally, Saphier engaged in discussions regarding public health transparency, questioning the reasons behind Trump’s comments against Tylenol use and relating these to the challenges faced as a parent. Such assertions reflect her ongoing commitment to clarify health messaging amidst conflicting political narratives.
A move toward more mainstream nominees
The Trump administration has recently aimed to stabilize its decision-making processes within the Health and Human Services Department, particularly concerning vaccine policy, which carries significant political implications ahead of the midterms. Dr. Erica Schwartz has been nominated for director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with a focus on choosing a candidate deemed “not crazy.”
Saphier’s background as a practicing radiologist has earned her respect following Trump’s nomination. Despite some criticism regarding her past behavior, her medical expertise stands out amidst administration controversies.
Her outspokenness has been evident since Kennedy’s confirmation as HHS secretary when she criticized Mitch McConnell for his vote against a key health initiative, remarking on the importance of aligning health leadership with credible public health strategies.
Saphier warned Kennedy-led reforms were creating ‘chaos’
Saphier has expressed concern over the changes made by Kennedy regarding federal vaccine policy. She highlighted issues such as restructuring the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), arguing that the changes have led to chaos rather than constructive reform.
In a series of tweets, she emphasized that while reform was necessary, it should not be executed at the expense of credibility or expertise in public health. Saphier’s continued critique has placed her at the intersection of health policy and political accountability, particularly as public trust in health recommendations is challenged.
As developments surrounding Trump’s health administration evolve, the implications of these changes will undoubtedly influence the direction of both health policy and public perception.
