President Donald Trump withdrew his controversial nominee Dr. Casey Means for the position of U.S. Surgeon General on April 30, 2024, replacing her with Dr. Nicole Saphier.
Key Takeaways
President Trump withdrew his nomination of Dr. Casey Means for U.S. Surgeon General on April 30, 2024, replacing her with Dr. Nicole Saphier. The decision came after months of delay due to concerns about Means' experience and views on vaccines.
- President Trump nominated Dr. Nicole Saphier as the new surgeon general nominee
- Dr. Casey Means faced criticism over her stance on vaccines during confirmation hearings
- Senator Bill Cassidy opposed Means' nomination, leading to political tensions with Trump
- Saphier is a radiologist known for her work in breast cancer imaging and advocacy
The decision to withdraw Dr. Means' nomination came after months of delay in the Senate due to questions about her experience and stance on vaccines. During her confirmation hearing in February 2024, Means declined to explicitly endorse vaccinations for babies and questioned established science about whether vaccines cause autism, stating that she believed 'vaccines save lives.' According to multiple sources, Dr. Means, a health influencer without an active medical license, faced criticism from senators over her views on vaccines and health.
Dr. Saphier is currently the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth and has authored several books critiquing the U.S.'s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. She earned her doctor of medicine degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados and completed fellowships at the Mayo Clinic, as reported by Los Angeles Times.
President Trump described Dr. Saphier as 'a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment,' per multiple sources. The withdrawal of Dr. Means' nomination followed a political dispute involving Senator Bill Cassidy. According to Fox News, President Trump accused Senator Cassidy of being 'very disloyal' for opposing Dr. Means' confirmation and urged Louisiana voters to replace him over his opposition to the nomination.
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