After withdrawing a nomination for surgeon general, Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Casey Means, an influencer, conspiracy theorist, and activist for Make America Healthy Again. Trump had originally nominated Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, but withdrew that nomination days before her confirmation hearing. On Wednesday, Trump used Truth Social to make the announcement. In the post, Trump called Casey Means a practitioner of “functional medicine.” Casey Means is a close ally of Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.
Trump Praises Casey Means
In the social media post, Trump cited Casey Means as having “Impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials. He went on to claim that Casey Means, who completed her education at Stanford University but dropped out of the ear, nose, and throat residency program at the University of Oregon, would work “closely” with Kennedy. Means currently does not have a medical license.
Trump wrote that Means and Kennedy would work “to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans.”
Trump Withdrew Nomination
Trump’s first pick, Janette Nesheiwat, is a former Fox News contributor. She is the sister-in-law of Mike Waltz, who is Trump’s former White House national security advisor. Trump withdrew her nomination after she became controversial over her investigative journalist behavior. Laura Loomer, another conspiracy theorist, pushed for Trump to withdraw the nomination over her ties to Waltz and her stance on COVID-19 vaccinations.
Laura Loomer Chimes In
Loomer used X to accuse Nesheiwat of being “not ideologically aligned with Donald Trump or his administration’s health initiatives. She used her access to Fox News to promote the dangerous COVID vaccine, which is now killing millions of people.”
Loomer added, “She tried to shame people who didn’t take the vaccine by calling them global health threats,” Loomer posted. Loomer’s comments on social media came on the heels of a news report that Nesheiwat may not have been honest about her background, especially her education.
Loomer is now using X to attack Casey Means’ nomination writing, “Casey Means is another horrible Trump nomination and another example of another VETTING CRISIS in the Trump White House. Many of Trump’s staff are doing him such a disservice by not vetting the appointments. It’s embarrassing. Truly embarrassing. I’m worried for @Potus.” It is yet to be seen if Loomer will play a role in Means’ nomination like she did Nesheiwats.
Credentials In Question
Last month, it was reported that Nesheiwat had used LinkedIn to claim she was a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. However, it was discovered that she earned her doctoral degree from the American University of the Caribbean, which is located on the Caribbean Island of St. Maarten. Nesheiwat had completed her multi-year residency at the University of Arkansas.
Jerome Adams Speaks Out
Former Trump administration Surgeon General Jerome Adams shared on X that he did not know what was “more troubling,” the possibility that “stigma against foreign medical graduates” led to Nesheiwat’s nomination being withdrawn, or the possibility that it was due to her stance on vaccines.
“The FMG talk is ill-informed and troubling. Much of our U.S. medical care (esp rural) depends on foreign grads. And Dr. N completed a U.S. residency (which is where you really learn how to practice medicine anyway). Hoping this doesn’t stigmatize docs who trained outside U.S.,” he added.
