The White House has decided to withdraw the nomination of Janette Nesheiwat for U.S. Surgeon General, making her the second health-related pick from President Donald Trump to be pulled from Senate consideration. Nesheiwat, a former Fox News medical contributor, was set to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing, but the decision to withdraw her nomination was confirmed by sources familiar with the matter.
Nesheiwat currently serves as the medical director for an urgent care company in New York and has been a frequent guest on Fox News, providing medical expertise and insights. She is known for her vocal support of President Trump and often shares photos of them together on social media. Additionally, Nesheiwat is the sister-in-law of former national security adviser Mike Waltz, who has been nominated to be Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations.
However, Nesheiwat has faced criticism from Laura Loomer, a far-right ally of Trump, who raised concerns about her qualifications. Loomer pointed out that Nesheiwat is currently involved in a medical malpractice case and did not attend medical school in the United States. CBS News reported that Nesheiwat obtained her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Maarten, despite claiming to have a degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine.
The Surgeon General plays a crucial role in overseeing 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members and issuing advisories to warn the public about health threats. The withdrawal of Nesheiwat’s nomination follows a similar move in March when the White House pulled the nomination of former Florida GOP Rep. Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weldon faced skepticism from key Republican senators due to his views on vaccines and ultimately withdrew after being informed that he did not have enough support for confirmation.
The decision to withdraw Nesheiwat’s nomination was first reported by Bloomberg News. It remains to be seen who will be nominated next for the position of U.S. Surgeon General, as the search for a suitable candidate continues.
