Trump Withdraws Surgeon General Nominee, Selects Dr. Casey Means Instead

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump withdrew Dr. Janette Nesheiwat‘s nomination for U.S. Surgeon General on Wednesday, just days before her confirmation hearing. Instead, he announced Dr. Casey Means as his new nominee, citing her qualifications and alignment with his health agenda.

The nomination switch comes after criticism of Nesheiwat’s credentials from some quarters, notably right-wing activist Laura Loomer. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Means as having ‘impeccable MAHA credentials,’ referring to the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ campaign slogan. He stated, ‘Dr. Casey Means has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States history.’

Dr. Means, a wellness influencer and author, received her medical degree from Stanford University. She has been vocal about the connections between diet and chronic diseases, arguing that conventional medicine has failed to address these issues adequately. Her book co-authored with her brother, Calley Means, discusses their insights on metabolism and health.

After her training at Stanford, Means pursued a surgical residency at Oregon Health & Science University but left before completing the program. Subsequently, she founded Levels, a health tech company that provides users with continuous glucose monitors to track their blood sugar. She also sells dietary supplements and other health-related products on her platforms.

In her public statements, Means attributes rising chronic health issues to the relentless influence of the pharmaceutical and food industries, calling for a reevaluation of the American diet and lifestyle. ‘Almost every chronic health symptom that Western medicine addresses is the result of our cells being beleaguered by how we’ve come to live,’ she noted.

Trump’s announcement of Means’ nomination aims to align with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to tackle what they call the ‘Chronic Disease Epidemic.’ However, her lack of government experience has raised eyebrows among some critics.

Nesheiwat, who previously served as a medical correspondent for Fox News, was set to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing. Following Loomer’s critiques regarding her past comments on vaccines and her legitimacy, Trump opted for a change.

In response to her nomination withdrawal, Nesheiwat said she looks forward to continuing her support for Trump and Kennedy in a senior policy role. Both her and Means’ nominations reflect a broader strategy of Trump’s administration to influence public health and wellness through their preferred narratives on chronic disease and healthcare policies.

As the new Surgeon General, if confirmed, Means will oversee more than 6,000 uniformed officers in the U.S. Public Health Service and may also prompt significant changes to the management of public health in the nation.