President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of Dr. Casey Means’ stalled nomination for U.S. Surgeon General on Thursday, April 25th, replacing her with Dr. Nicole Saphier.
Key Takeaways
President Donald Trump withdrew Dr. Casey Means’ nomination for U.S. Surgeon General on April 25th, replacing her with Dr. Nicole Saphier.
- President Trump announced the withdrawal after months of Senate delays over questions about Dr. Means' experience and vaccine stance
- Dr. Saphier is a radiologist and former Fox News Channel contributor who has both praised and criticized the Trump administration's health policies
- Senator Bill Cassidy opposed Dr. Means' confirmation, leading to political disputes with President Trump
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. According to BBC, Dr. Means, a health influencer without an active medical license, faced criticism from senators over her views on vaccines and health during her confirmation hearing in February.
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. Dr. Casey Means' brother, Calley Means, blamed Senator Cassidy for the failed nomination, stating that he 'worked to delay her and smear her,' per Fox News.
Additionally, Trump stated that Dr. Casey Means will continue to fight for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement despite opposition from Senator Bill Cassidy.
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