President Trump announced Wednesday he plans to nominate Dr. Casey Means to serve as his surgeon general after he withdrew the nomination of his previous choice, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat.
“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,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to the Make America Healthy Again movement.
Mr. Trump said Dr. Nesheiwat, a former Fox News contributor, would work with Mr. Kennedy “in another capacity” at the health and human services department.
Dr. Nesheiwat was scheduled to appear before the Senate health committee on Thursday, but her nomination ran into trouble on two fronts. Laura Loomer, a conservative activist whom Mr. Trump has listened to on other personnel matters, called for a new surgeon general nominee, arguing Dr. Nesheiwat “is not ideologically aligned” with the president. Reports have also raised questions about the veracity of Dr. Nesheiwat’s résumé.
She is the sister-in-law of Michael Waltz, who served as Mr. Trump’s national security adviser until last week. The president said he would nominate Mr. Waltz to be the ambassador to the United Nations.