President Trump withdrew surgeon general nominee Dr. Casey Means after controversy over her vaccine views and questions about her clinical credentials, and named Dr. Nicole Saphier as his replacement. Saphier, a radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Fox News contributor, was praised by Trump as an effective communicator and cancer specialist. Means, a Stanford-trained physician aligned with the MAHA movement and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faced scrutiny from senators and some supporters over vaccines and credentialing. The episode highlighted intra-GOP divisions over vaccine policy and oversight of public-health nominees.
After Vaccine Controversy, Trump Withdraws Casey Means and Nominates Dr. Nicole Saphier as Surgeon General
Dr. Nicole Saphier appears on FOX Nation's "Love Mom The Live Show" at Fox News Channel Studios in New York, on April 3, 2024. - John Lamparski/Getty Images/File
President Donald Trump on Thursday withdrew his embattled surgeon general nominee, Dr. Casey Means, amid questions about her vaccine views and clinical credentials, and announced Dr. Nicole Saphier as his new pick for the post.
In a Truth Social post, Trump praised Saphier as a standout physician and communicator who helps patients navigate cancer diagnosis and treatment while advocating for earlier detection and prevention. Saphier is a radiologist affiliated with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a longtime commentator on Fox News.
"Nicole is a STAR physician ... She is also an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR, who makes complicated health issues more easily understood by all Americans," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
This is the president's third nomination for surgeon general during his second term. His first nominee, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, had her nomination withdrawn last year days before a scheduled Senate confirmation hearing.
Why Casey Means’ Nomination Stalled
Means, a Stanford-trained physician and author of the best-selling book "Good Energy," had been a visible figure in the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement and was viewed as an ally of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Her nomination stalled after a tense confirmation hearing in February as senators probed her views on vaccines and other public-health issues.
Critics — including some within the MAHA movement and conservative activists — expressed skepticism about Means’ reluctance to take a definitive public stance on vaccines. Lawmakers also raised questions about her clinical qualifications: she did not complete a residency, and reports indicated her medical license had lapsed.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the Senate committee that questioned Means, became a flashpoint in the debate. Trump publicly criticized Cassidy on Truth Social, accusing him of blocking Means’ nomination amid an intra-GOP dispute over vaccine policy and the influence of Kennedy.
According to reporting, Means sought private meetings with Republican senators who had signaled opposition, including Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, but as of mid-March those meetings had not taken place; Murkowski told CNN she was "not enthusiastic" about the nominee.
Role of the Surgeon General
The surgeon general — often called "the nation's doctor" — provides public health guidance through advisories, reports and public outreach, and serves as a leader in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a uniformed service dedicated to promoting national health.
The nomination of Dr. Nicole Saphier will now move through the Senate confirmation process. The development underscores ongoing debates within the Republican Party over vaccine policy, public-health expertise and the influence of outside figures such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Reporting note: This article synthesizes reporting on the nominations and confirmation process and will be updated as further details emerge.
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