Trump Withdraws Surgeon General Nominee, Names Replacement
President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of Dr. Casey Means as his nominee for U.S. Surgeon General on March 20, 2025, and named Dr. Nicole B. Saphier as his replacement. This marks the third nomination for the position during Trump's second term.
Nomination Timeline
Withdrawal of Dr. Casey Means
Dr. Casey Means, a nominee for Surgeon General since May 2024, had her nomination withdrawn after failing to secure sufficient Senate votes for confirmation.
Opposition included Republican Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Susan Collins (R-ME).
Concerns raised during the confirmation process included:
- Incomplete surgical residency and lack of an active medical license
- Stance on childhood vaccination recommendations, including criticism of the hepatitis B birth dose for newborns
- Promotion of wellness products containing lead and cadmium
Trump stated Means will continue to advocate for the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Nomination of Dr. Nicole B. Saphier
Dr. Nicole B. Saphier is a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth, a branch of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New Jersey.
"She holds a medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados and completed fellowships at the Mayo Clinic."
Saphier is a Fox News contributor and hosts a podcast. She authored the 2020 book Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion Dollar Crisis.
In 2019, she attempted to trademark the phrase "Make America Healthy Again." The application was suspended due to a prior filing by another individual and was abandoned in 2021. Saphier is an active licensed physician.
Previous Nominee
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, the first nominee for the position, withdrew after questions arose about her academic credentials, including a false claim of graduating from an American medical school.
Statements
President Donald Trump described Dr. Saphier as "a STAR physician" and "an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR." He criticized Senator Bill Cassidy for "intransigence and political games" and "standing in the way" of the Means nomination, also calling Cassidy a "very disloyal person."
Dr. Jerome Adams, former Surgeon General under Trump, expressed expectation that Saphier would be confirmed, citing her clinical background and temperament.
"Dr. Georges Benjamin, American Public Health Association: Called Saphier a 'reasonable choice' but noted her positions on vaccines would likely be scrutinized."
Dr. Richard Carmona, former Surgeon General, stressed the need for public health expertise beyond clinical medicine for the role.
Dr. Vin Gupta, pulmonologist and U.S. Air Force reservist, raised concerns about Saphier's non-U.S. medical training, stating, "Credentials matter."
Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) described Means as "unqualified" and called her promotion of unsafe products "the greatest scam of all."
Calley Means, brother of Casey Means, blamed Senator Cassidy for the nomination's failure.
Neither Dr. Means nor Dr. Saphier immediately responded to requests for comment. The Department of Health and Human Services referred inquiries to the White House.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai called Saphier an "accomplished physician" who would advance the MAHA agenda.
Position Background
The U.S. Surgeon General is responsible for public health promotion and leads the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (rank: three-star vice admiral).
The position requires Senate confirmation, which includes approval by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, chaired by Senator Bill Cassidy, followed by a full Senate vote.
Confirmation Status
As of available sources, no confirmation hearing has been scheduled for Dr. Saphier.
Her views on vaccines, personal responsibility, and chronic disease are expected to be topics of questioning during the confirmation process.
Saphier has previously diverged from some Trump administration medical messaging, including advising moderation in acetaminophen use during pregnancy while emphasizing risks of untreated fever or pain.