WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has withdrawn Casey Means’ nomination for surgeon general, replacing her with Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and Fox News contributor.
This decision marks a setback for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which had been advocating for Means’ confirmation. However, Saphier aligns with some of MAHA’s principles, such as an interest in personal wellness and skepticism of vaccine mandates.
The nomination change highlights President Trump’s challenges in securing Senate approval, following ongoing concerns from lawmakers about his health policy agenda. Another nominee for a top health position at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also pending Senate review.
Trump announced the nomination switch on social media, attributing the block to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who heads the committee handling surgeon general nominations. Trump accused Cassidy, who has voiced significant concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine policies, of being “disloyal.”
“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,” Trump stated.
Kennedy criticized Cassidy on social media, accusing him of “sabotaging” Means.
“Bill Cassidy once again did the dirty work for entrenched interests seeking to stall the MAHA movement and protect the very status quo that has made America the sickest nation on earth,” he wrote.
Cassidy declined to comment on Trump’s statements when approached by reporters, according to Samantha Handler of Punchbowl News, who noted on social media that Cassidy mentioned Means lacked the necessary votes for confirmation.
Cassidy faces a challenging primary, with Trump and the national MAHA movement supporting one of his rivals.
Means, who completed medical school but did not finish her residency, faced criticism for not holding a medical license or having patient care experience.
Saphier practices at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and directs breast imaging at MSK Monmouth in New Jersey. She is married to a physician and has three children, including a child she had at 17.
What to know about Saphier
On Thursday afternoon, Trump finalized the nomination switch and lauded Saphier.
“She’s with Fox — was with Fox,” Trump remarked. “She’s great.”
An aide informed the president that Saphier is affiliated with Sloan Kettering and is an “outstanding doctor.”
Saphier credits her mother for supporting her as a young parent and encouraging her educational pursuits.
She graduated from Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados and completed her residency at Valleywise Health in Phoenix.
According to Ross, she completed a fellowship in oncological imaging at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and advocated for legislation requiring doctors to inform patients about dense breast tissue in both Arizona and New Jersey.
Her biography by AAE Speakers notes her involvement with the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women, though she is not currently listed as a member.
On vaccines, a contentious issue due to Kennedy’s anti-vaccine stance, Saphier reportedly opposes mandates but supports the positive impact of vaccinations.
As a regular Fox Business contributor, she has stated that credible research contradicts claims linking vaccines to autism, advocating for the MMR vaccine.
She has suggested that environmental factors, including chemicals from agriculture and pharmaceuticals, might contribute to rising autism rates in the U.S., while advocating for further research into vaccine safety to bolster public confidence.
Some MAHA leaders are warming to the change. Mary Talley Bowden, founder of Americans for Health Freedom, commented on social media that Saphier had recently extended “kind words” and expressed hope for her to bring balance to public health policy, despite their differing views during the pandemic.
“She seems to have changed her views from our communications,” Bowden said of Saphier.
On a recent episode of her podcast, Wellness Unmasked, Saphier expressed uncertainty about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to drop a mandatory flu vaccination policy for troops.
She authored “Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion-Dollar Crisis,” advocating for Americans to take better care of themselves to improve national health.
Saphier criticized the Biden administration’s Covid response while supporting Trump’s policies. Early in the pandemic, she appeared with Mehmet Oz, now a top administration health official, at a Fox Covid town hall with Trump and other officials, commending the border closure decision.
Means, other Trump nominees failed to win over senators
Means’ confirmation prospects weakened during her Senate health committee hearing, where she avoided endorsing universal immunization and called for more research on vaccines. Her past use of psilocybin, lack of a medical license, and business activities also drew attention.
Following the hearing, Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Cassidy did not pledge support for Means, whose confirmation likely depended on full Republican backing.
Trump has had to withdraw several health care nominees.
Last year, Janette Nesheiwat, another surgeon general nominee and former Fox News contributor, was withdrawn due to questions about her medical degree and opposition from Trump ally Laura Loomer.
Former Florida GOP Rep. Dave Weldon also saw his nomination to lead the CDC withdrawn over vaccine skepticism, which raised concerns among key Republican senators.
Helen Branswell contributed reporting.
This article has been updated with additional information about Saphier.
