It was announced today that President Donald Trump has done a about-face on his choice for the United States’ next Surgeon General. One day before the confirmation hearing for his original pick, Fox News medical contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat was to begin, Trump tapped Dr. Casey Means, who is close to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), as his new choice. In the same announcement, the president indicated that Nesheiwat would instead take another position at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Were political winds blowing? Perhaps. Nesheiwat is the sister-in-law of recently ousted and disgraced national security advisor Michael Waltz. As for Means, her brother Calley is an advisor for RFK Jr., and Dr. Means herself has advocated in support of Kennedy’s theory on the causes of chronic diseases. She also has an enormous following on social media, and she has appeared on two of Trump’s favorite podcasts, Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan.
Why Did Trump Make the Switch?
So, the question remains, why did Trump make the switch? Both candidates have MAGA-oriented cred that should impress the president’s inner circle. Nesheiwat, who received her medical degree from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Maarten, has been a vocal supporter of Trump, and she eagerly shares photos of them together on social media.
As for the Stanford Medical School educated Means, she has echoed some of Mr. Kennedy’s skepticism of vaccines, and she has called on the Trump administration to study their cumulative effects of vaccines and has advocated to limit liability protections for vaccine makers. She has also taken positions on issues such as removing fluoride from drinking water and consuming raw milk, which are at odds with public-health officials.
And last year, Means was a speaker at a highly publicized roundtable on American health and nutrition, hosted by Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, which featured Kennedy and other well-known allies of the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.
The Loomer Factor
Dr. Nesheiwat apparently went afoul of the White House and Trump supporters due to her previous positions on masking, social distancing, and her support of COVID-19 vaccines. But it also appears that Trump’s friend and non-official advisor, Laura Loomer was not happy with the president’s choice of Nesheiwat as surgeon general. She expressed her concerns on a May 4 X tweet that Ms. Nesheiwat was involved in a medical malpractice case that has dragged on since November 2021. Loomer also criticized her support of DEI initiatives and the COVID-19 vaccine. She said.
“Her advocacy for the China Virus’ vaccine’ as recently as November 2024 (despite evidence that it causes severe health risks and doesn’t prevent the spread of COVID) render her unfit for the role of United States Surgeon General.”
Trump on Means
When Trump announced her nomination, he said this about Dr. Means.
“Casey has impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans.”
But keep an eye on the Means nomination. Ms. Loomer has now launched an attack on the president’s latest designee. Writing on Truth Social today, Loomer remarked.
“This is so embarrassing for the Trump administration. They chose a social media influencer who sells supplements who didn’t even support Donald Trump to be the US Surgeon General. Who is doing the vetting????? There is something rotten in the Trump vetting operation.”
Stay tuned. This show’s not over yet.
