In a surprising turn of events, the White House has decided to withdraw the nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for the position of U.S. Surgeon General. This significant decision comes just a day before her scheduled confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The withdrawal was first confirmed by Senator Bernie Sanders’ office, the ranking Democrat on the committee.
Following this development, President Trump took to social media on Wednesday to announce his new nominee, Dr. Casey Means. Dr. Means, an entrepreneur and known wellness influencer, is notable for her association with the Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She is highly regarded among Kennedy’s circles and has been endorsed by them over Nesheiwat. President Trump praised her “MAHA” (Make America Healthy Again) credentials in his post announcing her nomination.
The withdrawal of Nesheiwat’s nomination seems to be influenced by several concerns regarding her educational qualifications and previous public statements. A particular issue arose with how Dr. Nesheiwat has represented her credentials. Her LinkedIn profile, for instance, erroneously listed that she received her M.D. degree from the University of Arkansas. However, it was later clarified that while she did complete her residency there, her actual medical degree was from the American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten, not the University of Arkansas.
This discrepancy was first pointed out by Anthony Clark, an independent journalist, through a Substack post. Further inquiry by the University of Arkansas confirmed that though Dr. Nesheiwat did her residency at their facility, they did not award her a degree.
The controversy doesn’t stop there. Nesheiwat also faced criticism from some conservative circles for her stance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, conservative activist Laura Loomer expressed her disapproval of Nesheiwat’s confirmation due to her support of COVID-19 vaccines. Following these accumulating issues, Bloomberg News was the first to report on her nomination being pulled back.
Despite reaching out, CBS News reported that they received no comment from the White House or from Dr. Nesheiwat regarding the withdrawal at the time of their inquiry. Nevertheless, Dr. Nesheiwat remains optimistic about her future role and involvement in public health. She expressed her continued commitment to improving public health in a post on X, stating her excitement about working with Secretary Kennedy and President Trump in a senior policy role aimed at ‘Making America Healthy Again.’
Prior to this nomination, Dr. Nesheiwat was known to the public as a medical contributor for Fox News. She also has a connection to the political arena through her brother-in-law, Mike Waltz, who was President Trump’s national security adviser before being removed and subsequently nominated as ambassador to the United Nations.
In the midst of this unexpected shift in nomination by the Trump administration, the focus now turns to Dr. Casey Means. Her notable background as a wellness influencer and close association with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. adds an intriguing dimension to her upcoming confirmation process. It is expected that her established recognition in the health sector and her “MAHA” credentials will play a significant role in her hearing before the Senate.
The incident raises broader questions about the vetting process for high-profile government nominees and the impact of personal public histories on federal appointments. As politics and public health intersect, the outcomes of such nominations hold significant implications not just within the pools of government, but also among the general populace that the Surgeon General serves.
As the narrative unfolds, stakeholders from various sectors remain keenly tuned in. The political, health, and public spheres await more detailed disclosures on the qualifications and visions of incoming nominees, hoping for leadership that can advance America’s health policies effectively and inclusively.
