President Donald Trump answers questions from the press after signing 3 bills supporting the auto and fuel industries, Thursday, June 11, 2025, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that he is nominating Dr. Nicole Saphier to serve as the next U.S. Surgeon General, replacing his previous pick after growing opposition in the Senate.
“I am pleased to announce that I am nominating Dr. Nicole B. Saphier to be the next SURGEON GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Trump praised Saphier’s medical background and communication skills, highlighting her work in cancer care.
“Nicole is a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment while tirelessly advocating to increase early cancer detection and prevention, while at the same time working with men and women on all other forms of cancer diagnoses and treatments,” he said.
“She is also an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR, who makes complicated health issues more easily understood by all Americans. Dr. Nicole Saphier will do great things for our Country, and help ‘MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN.’ Congratulations Nicole, our Country has long been waiting for you!”
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump has nominated DR. NICOLE SAPHIER to be the next Surgeon General of the United States
Saphier has been a regular guest on Fox News for years now, and has been outspoken against COVID vax mandates for children.
The announcement came shortly after Trump confirmed he was withdrawing the nomination of Dr. Casey Means, who had faced resistance from key Republican senators during the confirmation process.
“Nevertheless, despite Senator Cassidy’s intransigence and political games, Casey will continue to fight for MAHA on the many important Health issues facing our Country, such as the rising childhood disease epidemic, increased autism rates, poor nutrition, over-medicalization, and researching the root causes of infertility, and many other difficult medical problems,” Trump wrote in a separate post.
“Casey, thank you for your service to our Nation!”
Means, who is the sister of White House adviser Calley Means and an ally of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., initially appeared to be a strong contender for the role. However, concerns from Republican members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee ultimately derailed her nomination.
Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska raised questions about Means’ views on vaccines, particularly for measles and hepatitis B. While she stated that the vaccines are safe and effective, she stopped short of offering the full-throated endorsement some senators were seeking.
With no expected Democratic support, even a small number of Republican defections proved enough to block her path to confirmation.
Calley Means publicly criticized Cassidy following the withdrawal.
“I am so proud of Casey, and the way she conducted herself during this process,” he wrote on social media. “At every step, Casey’s message of hope and empowerment was thwarted by Bill Cassidy.”
He went further, accusing the senator of working to undermine the nomination.
“Bill Cassidy is a mindless avatar for his donors and a blind defender of the status quo system that is profiting from American sickness,” he added.
Saphier now becomes Trump’s third nominee for Surgeon General after two previous picks failed to secure enough support. His first nominee, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, also did not advance.
With Saphier’s nomination, the administration is making another attempt to fill the high-profile public health role as it continues to navigate internal party divisions and Senate confirmation challenges.
