Trump pulls Casey Means' stalled surgeon general nomination, announces new pick

WASHINGTON — President Trump announced Thursday his nomination of former Fox News Channel contributor and radiologist Dr. Nicole Saphier for surgeon general, following the withdrawal of Dr. Casey Means' nomination after Senate confirmation difficulties centered on her qualifications and vaccine positions.

In a social media announcement, Trump described Saphier as "a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment."

Saphier currently serves as a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth. Her credentials include a medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados and fellowships completed at the Mayo Clinic, according to her institutional profile.

Nomination Withdrawn Following Senate Obstacles

The decision to withdraw Means' nomination followed contentious exchanges with bipartisan lawmakers during confirmation proceedings, raising significant doubts about her ability to secure the necessary committee votes for advancement.

Her nomination had remained stagnant since a February confirmation hearing, despite coordinated efforts by Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement supporters who organized extensive phone campaigns targeting Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, both of whom had expressed concerns about the nomination.

Means' MAHA-Aligned Healthcare Philosophy

Trump's initial selection of Means in May represented an effort to position a close ally of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the nation's top medical officer. The 38-year-old Stanford-educated physician, who transitioned from traditional medicine to entrepreneurship and authorship, advocates for healthcare approaches aligned with MAHA principles, emphasizing reduced medicalization and prioritizing dietary and lifestyle interventions to address chronic disease epidemics.

However, Means' background presented several challenges for confirmation. Her incomplete surgical residency and inactive medical license status raised questions about her qualifications. Additionally, senators intensively questioned her regarding the Kennedy administration's modified vaccine recommendations, creating tense exchanges as Means attempted to balance vaccine support with patient-centered decision-making approaches.

During confirmation hearings, Means faced repeated questioning about the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discontinued recommending for all children in late 2025—a decision that drew widespread criticism from medical and scientific organizations. Means had previously questioned this practice, stating on social media in 2024 that administering the vaccine to newborns whose parents lack hepatitis B was "absolute insanity."

In Thursday's social media posts, Trump praised Means as "a strong MAHA Warrior" while criticizing what he termed "intransigence and political games" from Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who faces reelection challenges this year and had questioned Means extensively about vaccines during hearings.

Calley Means, Casey's brother and a Trump administration health adviser, attributed the nomination's failure to Cassidy's "constant delay tactics" in a social media statement. Senator Cassidy's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Third Attempt at Filling Critical Position

Means becomes the second surgeon general nominee whose confirmation Trump has withdrawn during his second term. The administration previously withdrew Fox News medical contributor Janette Nesheiwat's nomination following questions about her academic qualifications.