Trump names radiologist Dr. Nicole Saphier as new Surgeon General.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump unveiled his latest choice for the nation's top health official, naming Dr. Nicole B. Saphier, a prominent radiologist and frequent contributor to Fox News, to serve as Surgeon General. This announcement marks a significant shift in the administration's health strategy, effectively replacing Casey Means, a wellness influencer who had been closely aligned with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his "Make America Great Again" movement. Means had previously faced a grueling Senate confirmation hearing in February, where she was pressed on her controversial positions regarding vaccines, birth control, and pesticide use.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump praised Dr. Saphier, describing her as a "STAR physician" who has dedicated her career to guiding women through breast cancer diagnoses and treatments. He highlighted her tireless advocacy for early detection and prevention, noting her work with patients of all genders. "She is also an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR, who makes complicated health issues more easily understood by all Americans," Trump wrote, adding that her appointment would help "MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN." He concluded with a warm congratulations, stating, "our Country has long been waiting for you!"

Dr. Saphier currently serves as the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's imaging facility in Monmouth, New Jersey. As the nation's doctor, the Surgeon General acts as the leading authority on public health, overseeing the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps—a body of officers dedicated to protecting the public's well-being. Her medical credentials include attending medical school at the Ross University School of Medicine, completing her residency at Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, and finishing a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. She is board-certified in diagnostic radiology, with specialties in breast imaging, CT scans, and ultrasounds.

However, the appointment has drawn attention to her past public statements, particularly a 2022 claim in which she falsely alleged that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was seeking to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for students. This assertion, which she first made on Twitter, was subsequently amplified by news networks and social media users, despite the fact that vaccine mandates for schools fall under the jurisdiction of individual states and local authorities, not the federal agency.

Dr. Saphier is an author with several publications, including the 2020 book *Make America Healthy Again*, which adopted the same slogan as RFK Jr.'s political movement and focused on preventing chronic disease through diet and exercise. Her 2021 title, *Panic Attack*, critiqued pandemic-era restrictions and school closures, while her most recent work, *Love, Mom: Inspiring Stories Celebrating Motherhood* (2024), is a collection of personal narratives. As the President's third nominee for this critical role, following Janette Nesheiwat last year, Saphier's selection underscores the administration's ongoing efforts to reshape the nation's approach to health policy, a move that will inevitably ripple through the public health system and affect how medical information is disseminated across the country.

The White House officially withdrew its nomination for the position and subsequently advanced Means as the new candidate.

During her confirmation hearing, lawmakers subjected the popular wellness influencer to intense questioning regarding her vaccine opinions and medical qualifications.

Earlier Thursday, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social stating, "Casey will continue to fight for MAHA on the many important Health issues facing our Country."

He listed concerns such as the rising childhood disease epidemic, increased autism rates, poor nutrition, and the over-medicalization of modern healthcare.

Trump also mentioned researching infertility root causes and addressing other difficult medical problems.

Means had previously endorsed several of RFK Jr.'s more contentious positions during her public appearances.

She notably suggested on a Joe Rogan podcast episode last year that childhood vaccines might cause autism.

Medical professionals told the Daily Mail that Means was "grossly underqualified" for the role.

She would have joined a very small group of Surgeons General lacking an active medical license.

Furthermore, she would have been the sole nominee to fail completing full medical training.