Trump pulls Casey Means’ nomination as surgeon general, names Nicole Saphier as replacement
President Trump has announced a new nomination for the next U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Nicole B. Saphier. This comes after his previous nominee, Casey Means, faced opposition and stalled confirmation in the Senate for months. In a series of posts on Truth Social, President Trump expressed frustration with Sen. Bill Cassidy for impeding Means’ nomination and praised Saphier as a “STAR physician” and “INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR.”
Dr. Saphier, a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Monmouth, is a well-known figure in the medical field. She has been a Fox News medical contributor and authored the book “Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion-Dollar Crisis.” Additionally, Dr. Saphier hosts a health and wellness podcast called “Wellness Unmasked.”
Known for her criticism of public health authorities’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Saphier wrote a book on the subject in 2021. She also faced controversy for spreading misinformation about the CDC mandating coronavirus vaccines for schoolchildren, a claim debunked by The Washington Post. Dr. Saphier has also ventured into entrepreneurship with her company, DropRx, which sells natural products to aid concentration and reduce stress. These supplements are not FDA-reviewed for effectiveness.
On the other hand, Casey Means’ nomination faced challenges in the Senate, with her confirmation hearing revealing controversial statements about vaccines and her experimentation with psychedelic drugs in the past. Despite graduating from Stanford medical school, Means does not currently hold an active medical license, which raised concerns during her confirmation process.
In conclusion, Dr. Nicole B. Saphier’s nomination as the next U.S. surgeon general brings a new perspective to the role, with her expertise in breast imaging and advocacy for early cancer detection. Her background in media and entrepreneurship adds a unique dimension to her qualifications for the position. As the Senate considers her nomination, the healthcare community awaits the outcome of this important decision.
