The White House has officially withdrawn President Trump's nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for the position of U.S. surgeon general. This announcement comes ahead of her scheduled confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which was set for Thursday. The office of Senator Bernie Sanders, the ranking Democrat on the committee, confirmed the withdrawal earlier in the day.
In a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, President Trump announced his intention to nominate Dr. Casey Means as the new surgeon general. He highlighted her credentials with the initiative MAHA—Make America Healthy Again. Dr. Means is recognized as an entrepreneur and wellness influencer, and she is closely associated with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Her candidacy was reportedly favored by Kennedy's allies, positioning her as a preferred choice over Nesheiwat.
The withdrawal of Dr. Nesheiwat's nomination was precipitated by growing questions regarding the accuracy of her educational background and credentials as presented on social media and in various media appearances. For instance, her public profile on LinkedIn inaccurately claimed she held an M.D. degree from the University of Arkansas, when in fact, she obtained her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten. Although the University of Arkansas confirmed that she completed her residency there, she was not conferred a degree by the institution.
Concerns about Dr. Nesheiwat's resume were initially raised by independent journalist Anthony Clark on Substack. Additionally, conservative activist Laura Loomer publicly opposed Nesheiwat's confirmation on the platform X, citing her support for COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic as a key reason for her opposition. The news of Nesheiwat's nomination withdrawal was first reported by Bloomberg News, raising further scrutiny on the selection process for such a crucial role.
Following the announcement, Dr. Nesheiwat expressed her continued support for President Trump and indicated her desire to work closely with Secretary Kennedy in a senior policy role. She stated, "I am looking forward to continuing to support President Trump and working closely with Secretary Kennedy to Make America Healthy Again!" She emphasized that her focus remains on improving the health and well-being of all Americans, despite the withdrawal of her nomination.
As the situation evolves, it will be important to monitor how the new nomination of Dr. Casey Means will be received, and what implications it may have on public health initiatives in the United States.
