In a series of social media posts Thursday, President Trump withdrew his nomination of Casey to be Surgeon General, Remaking America’s Health, criticized Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) for the stalled Senate nomination of Means, then announced a new nominee: Nicole B. Saphier, a breast radiologist at the Means-Sentrum and founder of an herbal supplement company that has questioned vaccines.
It is no surprise that Trump has given up on the Means. The candidacy of the Stanford University-educated doctor was suspended in the Senate after that February confirmation hearing Before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), chaired by Cassidy. It was later revealed that several Republican legislators, including Cassidy, were present reservations regarding his nomination.
Doubts about the means
In particular, concerns centered around his vaccine views and qualifications. Although he has a medical degree, he left his medical residency and does not hold an active license. During the hearing, he mostly tried to sidestep questions about vaccines, avoiding publicly recommending life-saving shots or contradicting the views of anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.
Since leaving his medical career, Means has built a lucrative health career, becoming a prominent influencer among Kennedy’s MAHA movement. Thus, he purchased diagnostic tests, herbal remedies, various health products, teas, supplements and “elixirs” while giving questionable health advice. In the book Good EnergyIn the book he co-authored with his brother, which some consider the “MAHA Bible,” there is a chapter called “Trust Yourself, Not Your Doctor.”
In an op-ed about Means’ failed candidacy, Trump blasted Cassidy, calling him “a very disloyal person” and “standing in the way of Robert F. Kennedy’s nominee, Casey Means.” He later clarified, “I nominated, on Secretary Kennedy’s recommendation, the mighty MAHA Warrior Casey, who understands the MAHA Movement better than anyone except, perhaps, ME!” Trump thanked Means and said he will continue to fight for MAHA.
