President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is nominating Dr. Nicole Saphier to serve as the next U.S. surgeon general, replacing his earlier choice, Dr. Casey Means, whose confirmation process has struggled to gain traction in the Senate.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Saphier as 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. She is also an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR, who makes complicated health issues more easily understood by all Americans. Dr. Nicole Saphier will do great things for our Country, and help, “MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN.”
Saphier is a radiologist and serves as director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Monmouth, New Jersey location. Her profile noted that her clinical work includes performing minimally invasive, image-guided procedures across multiple organs. In addition to her medical career, she has been a frequent contributor on Fox News, authored the book “Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion-Dollar Crisis,” and hosts the podcast “Wellness Unmasked.”
The nomination shift follows months of uncertainty surrounding Means, who appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in February. Means, who holds a medical degree but does not have an active license, faced scrutiny over past statements questioning established medical consensus, including remarks that “the science is never settled.” Additional attention was drawn to her past experimentation with psychedelic drugs and her broader views on public health issues.
During her hearing, Means also voiced general support for vaccines but avoided firmly endorsing certain immunizations, including the flu shot. When pressed by Sen. Bill Cassidy on whether she would recommend the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children, she emphasized personal choice and doctor-patient discussions rather than giving a direct endorsement.
Trump attributed the stalled nomination in part to resistance from Cassidy, stating that the senator “has stood in the way” of the process. Despite the setback, Trump indicated that Means will remain involved in health-related efforts moving forward.
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