Trump's New Surgeon General Pick Has Both Praised and Cringed at His Administration

Nicole Saphier, MD, is President Donald Trump's latest pick for the vacant role of U.S. surgeon general, a nomination that ended the embattled campaign of his previous candidate, Casey Means, MD, after it became clear she didn't have the votes to advance out of a Senate committee. Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News Channel contributor, has promoted several aspects of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda, including removing food additives, cutting ultraprocessed foods from diets, and encouraging exercise. But she has been a more vocal advocate for vaccination than Kennedy, and at times she has criticized the Trump administration's handling of health issues as "embarrassing." If confirmed as the nation's doctor, Saphier would be empowered to issue advisories that warn of public health threats. Surgeons general also have used the office to advocate on vaccination issues -- though the office doesn't create vaccine policy. Means, a Stanford University-educated physician and MAHA influencer who didn't finish her surgical residency in Oregon and has an inactive medical license, had faced a grilling from senators of both major political parties over her experience and stance on vaccination. She told the Associated Press her failed nomination was