President Donald Trump on Thursday withdrew Dr. Casey Means' nomination for surgeon general and announced Dr. Nicole Saphier as his new pick for the nation's top health post, resolving a months-long confirmation battle that had stalled in the Senate.
Saphier is a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Monmouth County, New Jersey. She also serves as a medical contributor on Fox News. Trump praised her as a "STAR physician" dedicated to guiding cancer patients and increasing early detection, while highlighting her ability to communicate complex health issues to the public.
Her credentials align with the health agenda being pushed by Trump's health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Saphier authored "Make America Healthy Again" in 2020, a title that became the slogan for Kennedy's wellness movement. Her 2021 book "Panic Attack" criticized pandemic lockdowns and school closures, positions shared by Kennedy and other Trump health officials including Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who leads the National Institutes of Health and serves as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Means' path to confirmation had become increasingly complicated. The emergency medicine doctor faced a contentious Senate hearing in February where she was grilled about her controversial positions on vaccines, birth control, and pesticides. Medical professionals and senators questioned her assertions that vaccines could contribute to autism, claims contradicted by extensive scientific research. She also drew criticism for claiming birth control pills carry "horrifying health risks" and for promoting wellness products and supplements without scientific backing.
Beyond her public statements, Means faced a practical hurdle: she lacks an active medical license. Though she completed medical school, she never finished a surgical residency and her license lapsed in 2024. That gap raised questions among health experts about whether she met the professional standards expected of a surgeon general.
The real obstacle to her confirmation, however, was Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. The Republican chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where Means' nomination had stalled. Trump directly blamed Cassidy on Truth Social, calling him "a very disloyal person" and a "MAHA Warrior." Cassidy had cast a crucial vote to confirm Kennedy as health secretary but grew wary of Kennedy's vaccine policies, particularly changes to CDC guidance suggesting a link between vaccines and autism. Kennedy had pledged during his confirmation process not to undermine vaccine confidence, but the two clashed during recent budget hearings.
Trump indicated that Means would continue working on health issues despite the withdrawn nomination. "Nevertheless, despite Senator Cassidy's intransigence and political games, Casey will continue to fight for MAHA on the many important Health issues facing our Country," he wrote on Truth Social, referring to the Make America Healthy Again movement.
Saphier's nomination sidesteps the credential and credibility issues that plagued Means' bid. If confirmed, she would assume the surgeon general's role, giving her authority to issue health advisories that shape public health policy nationwide. The move also represents a strategic shift by Trump, replacing a controversial figure who drew opposition even from some Republican senators with a candidate whose media background and medical credentials present fewer obvious vulnerabilities.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Saphier may face an easier path to confirmation, but her book and media presence suggest she shares Means' skepticism about conventional medicine, which means the core ideological battle over health policy isn't really resolved, just relocated."
Comments