Trump taps Kennedy ally Casey Means as surgeon-general after pulling first pick
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US President Trump announced Dr Casey Means as his nominee for the next surgeon-general of the country.
PHOTO: CASEYMEANS.COM
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump is tapping Dr Casey Means to be the next US surgeon-general after his prior nominee was withdrawn shortly before her confirmation hearing.
Mr Trump announced the news on Truth Social, his social media platform.
Dr Means is the sister of Mr Calley Means, a top aide to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Bloomberg earlier reported that the White House was pulling its nomination for former Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat to be surgeon-general, according to people familiar with the matter.
Mr Trump said Dr Nesheiwat would work with Mr Kennedy in another capacity at HHS.
The Office of the Surgeon-General is responsible for providing Americans with scientific information about healthcare options and how to reduce the risk of illness.
It is best known for issuing warnings on products like cigarettes.
“Casey has impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials,” Mr Trump said, referring to the Make America Healthy Again movement that the Means siblings have helped popularise. “Her academic achievements, together with her life’s work, are absolutely outstanding.”
Dr Means declined to comment.
The 37-year-old received a medical degree from Stanford Medical School, but left during her training as a surgeon.
She later co-founded Levels Health, a subscription-based app backed by venture firm a16z that connects users to wearable glucose monitors.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms Means’ mother was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and died just 13 days later.
The Means siblings have said the experience set them on a path to change America’s “broken health incentives”.
They co-wrote a book, Good Energy, that they have promoted on right-wing podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience and The Tucker Carlson Show.
It is also become a popular read among some Trump campaign staff.
Dr Casey Means is a vocal critic of the pharmaceutical industry and has said companies should not be allowed to directly advertise their drugs to consumers on TV.
She has been equally critical of Big Food, advocating for warning labels on ultra-processed food.
Ms Vani Hari, a food activist and fellow ally of RFK Jr, called Dr Means’ nomination “the best news for this country”.
The switch-up comes just a day before the Senate Health, Education, Labour and Pensions Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing on Dr Nesheiwat’s nomination.
She is now the second high-profile health pick that the White House has pulled at the eleventh hour.
The hearing for Dr Dave Weldon, Mr Trump’s first pick to lead the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, was cancelled last minute after senators expressed concern about his views on the childhood vaccination schedule.
Dr Nesheiwat was not available for comment.
Spokespeople for the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services declined to comment.
CBS News reported in late April that Dr Nesheiwat, who said she is a board-certified doctor with a degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, actually earned her degree from a medical school in the Caribbean.
An earlier report alleged she “distorted” key parts of her resume. BLOOMBERG