Trump withdraws nomination of surgeon general nominee Casey Means, appoints Nicole Saphier
President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Dr. Casey Means for the position of surgeon general amid scrutiny regarding her views on vaccines, announcing Dr. Nicole Saphier as his new pick for the role, reports BritPanorama.
Saphier, a radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a longtime Fox News contributor, has been praised by Trump for her medical expertise. “Nicole is a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment while tirelessly advocating to increase early cancer detection and prevention, while at the same time working with men and women on all other forms of cancer diagnoses and treatments,” Trump stated on Truth Social.
He further emphasized Saphier’s communicative abilities, commenting, “She is also an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR, who makes complicated health issues more easily understood by all Americans.” Saphier has reportedly expressed concerns about vaccine coverage, acknowledging the impact of declining vaccination rates against diseases like measles. “That 2% difference, it’s tens of hundreds of thousands of children, and it’s enough to fuel localized outbreaks, and that’s a problem,” she remarked on her podcast, “Wellness Unmasked.”
Means’ nomination, previously faced criticism during her confirmation hearing in February. As a Stanford-educated physician with ties to the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, her views on vaccinations had provoked skepticism, even among backers of the movement. Questions about her qualifications arose as it was noted that she did not complete her residency and her medical license has lapsed.
Trump’s choice of Saphier marks his third nominee for surgeon general in this term, as Means faced challenges securing support from key Senate figures. The surgeon general, often referred to as “the nation’s doctor,” plays a crucial role in advising the public on health issues through advisories and reports and oversees the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
Trump’s move to replace Means with Saphier comes amid a backdrop of political tensions, particularly highlighted by his criticism of Senator Bill Cassidy, who had questioned Means during her confirmation process. Cassidy has since dismissed Trump’s remarks, asserting his loyalty to the United States and his commitment to collaborating with the administration.
As the administration navigates this transition in leadership within public health, the ongoing dialogue surrounding vaccination policy and the surgeon general’s role suggests that the discussions will remain significant as the nation grapples with health challenges ahead.
