President Donald Trump has once again shown his knack for keeping America on its toes as he changed his mind, withdrawing Dr. Janette Nesheiwat’s nomination for Surgeon General and pivoting to Dr. Casey Means.
See the tweet below.
Means is a Stanford-educated physician and wellness advocate with close ties to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The last-minute change came just one day before Nesheiwat’s scheduled Senate confirmation hearing, amid growing criticism over her medical credentials and vaccine stance.
Trump announced the surprising nomination change on Truth Social, highlighting Dr. Means’ “outstanding” academic credentials and alignment with his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda.
The decision follows intense scrutiny of Nesheiwat’s background, including discrepancies about her medical education and criticism from conservative influencers.
Dr. Casey Means brings impressive credentials as a Stanford-educated physician and wellness advocate.
She co-authored a book with her brother Calley Means and has built a significant social media following while appearing on popular podcasts.
Her views align closely with Kennedy’s focus on addressing the root causes of chronic disease, making her a natural fit for the administration’s health initiatives.
Questions about Nesheiwat’s qualifications emerged when Anthony Clark revealed she had claimed a degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine but actually graduated from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.
This discrepancy raised red flags about her transparency and credentials just as her confirmation process was set to begin.
Meanwhile, conservative influencer Laura Loomer played a significant role in opposing Nesheiwat’s nomination.
Loomer criticized Nesheiwat for her stance on vaccine hesitancy, promotion of COVID-19 vaccines, support for DEI initiatives, and involvement in medical malpractice litigation.
These positions reportedly conflicted with the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” vision and may have contributed to Trump’s decision to withdraw her nomination.
Moreover, the surgeon general switch marks Trump’s second health official nomination this year. Earlier, Dave Weldon’s nomination for CDC director was also withdrawn.
These changes demonstrate Trump’s commitment to ensuring his health officials fully align with his administration’s priorities rather than proceeding with potentially problematic appointments.
Despite withdrawing her nomination for Surgeon General, Trump has indicated that Nesheiwat will continue to serve the administration in another role at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Nesheiwat is the sister-in-law of Trump’s former national security advisor, Mike Waltz, and maintains close connections to the administration’s inner circle.
Dr. Means’ appointment signals the administration’s emphasis on wellness and preventative health measures rather than traditional pharmaceutical approaches.
Her selection also strengthens Kennedy’s influence over health policy, as Means shares many of his perspectives on alternative health approaches and questioning conventional medical interventions.
The nomination switch underscores President Trump’s willingness to make decisive personnel changes when necessary, even at the last minute.
By selecting Dr. Means, he has chosen a surgeon general candidate whose wellness-focused approach and questioning of establishment medical practices better align with his administration’s goal of transforming America’s healthcare and entrenched medical institutions.
Thank you @DonaldJTrumpJr! https://t.co/LxsRw2mnQD
— Casey Means, MD (@CaseyMeansMD) May 7, 2025
