Washington — President Trump on Thursday mentioned he’s nominating Dr. Nicole B. Saphier to be the following U.S. surgeon common, changing his nomination of Casey Means, whose bid has stalled within the Senate for months.
The president introduced the shuffle in a pair of posts on Reality Social. Within the first, he blamed Sen. Invoice Cassidy for Means’ nomination stalling within the wake of her affirmation listening to in February, saying the Louisiana Republican “has stood in the best way” of his choose.
“I nominated Casey, a powerful MAHA Warrior, on the advice of Secretary Kennedy, who understands the MAHA Motion higher than anybody, with maybe the attainable exception of ME!” he wrote. “Nonetheless, regardless of Senator Cassidy’s intransigence and political video games, Casey will proceed to combat for MAHA on the numerous essential Well being points dealing with our Nation.”
Minutes later, Mr. Trump mentioned he is nominating Saphier, a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Most cancers Middle Monmouth. She was a Fox Information medical contributor till her nomination.
In 2020, she wrote the ebook, “Make America Wholesome Once more: How Dangerous Conduct and Huge Authorities Induced a Trillion-Greenback Disaster.” She hosts a well being and wellness podcast referred to as “Wellness Unmasked.”
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“Nicole is a STAR doctor who has spent her profession guiding ladies dealing with breast most cancers by way of their prognosis and therapy whereas tirelessly advocating to extend early most cancers detection and prevention, whereas on the similar time working with women and men on all different types of most cancers diagnoses and coverings,” the president wrote. “She can be an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR, who makes difficult well being points extra simply understood by all People.”
Saphier criticized COVID response, constructed complement enterprise
Saphier is understood for her criticism of how public well being authorities dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, the topic of a ebook she wrote in 2021.
She stirred controversy the next yr when she tweeted that the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention was making ready to mandate coronavirus vaccines for schoolchildren, a declare that was debunked by The Washington Put up. (Saphier limits the visibility of her posts on what’s now X).
Saphier has additionally emerged as an entrepreneur, launching an organization referred to as DropRx that sells pure merchandise to help focus and scale back stress. Such dietary supplements aren’t reviewed by the Meals and Drug Administration for effectiveness, as a disclaimer on the web site notes.
The corporate, which utilized for a trademark in 2023, advertises a number of botanical merchandise described as “doctor formulated” dietary supplements that promote for about $30 a bottle. One product, referred to as Focus, is billed as serving to “enhance mind operate, improve focus, sharpen reminiscence and assist cognition.” One other, referred to as Calm, is designed to “promote rest, ease on a regular basis rigidity, and assist a relaxed mind-set.”
On Amazon, the bottles characteristic a label noting that they have been designed “by Dr. Nicole Saphier,” and are marketed as “backed by science.”
Saphier holds lively medical licenses in New York, New Jersey and Arizona, in response to a database maintained by the Federation of State Medical Boards.
Means’ nomination stalled in Senate
Means’ affirmation listening to was Feb. 25, however since then, the method stalled as she struggled to obtain enough assist within the Senate.
Amongst a handful of notable moments throughout her affirmation listening to earlier than the Senate Well being Committee, Means in her testimony would not straight say if she would encourage moms to vaccinate their youngsters. Cassidy, who’s a physician, and others on the committee have harassed the worth of many vaccines in saving lives. When requested about vaccines and any potential hyperlink to autism, Means advised the committee the “science isn’t settled.”
Means additionally publicly acknowledged experimenting with psychedelic medication in her 30s.
Means, who graduated from medical faculty, doesn’t have a at the moment lively medical license, one thing that was identified in her affirmation listening to. The president nominated Means in Might 2025, however her affirmation listening to was delayed after she gave beginning to her first youngster in October.
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