President Trump’s nomination of Dr. Casey Means as U.S. Surgeon General has ignited a firestorm of controversy. Critics have raised questions about Dr. Means’ qualifications, while supporters defend her educational background and outspoken criticism of chronic disease management. Could this backlash undermine the public’s trust in government officials?
Nomination Turmoil Erupts
President Trump has withdrawn his initial nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for Surgeon General after significant backlash from conservative grassroots supporters. The controversy centered around Dr. Nesheiwat’s previous support for COVID-19 lockdowns, mask mandates, and child vaccinations, positions that contradicted Trump’s pandemic stance despite her later reversal on these issues.
In her place, Trump nominated Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician with ties to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was recently confirmed as Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary. The nomination, intended to quell the initial backlash, has instead triggered a new wave of criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, creating unexpected divisions within Trump’s camp.
🚨 🚨 @CaseyMeansMD Casey Means, the new Trump nominee for US Surgeon General doesn’t even have an active medical license in Oregon when she established her medical practice.
How is the top doctor in the US supposed to give medical guidance and advice to the nation when she… https://t.co/IIE1i0nAvG pic.twitter.com/Ey8BeZplT7
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) May 8, 2025
Credentials and Qualifications Under Fire
Investigative journalist Laura Loomer has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Dr. Means, questioning her qualifications for the nation’s top doctor position. Loomer highlighted that Means lacks an active medical license in Oregon, where she previously established her practice, raising concerns about her ability to provide medical guidance to the nation.
Critics have also pointed to Dr. Means’ history as a wellness influencer who sells supplements and her alleged lack of support for Donald Trump during his campaign. Additionally, Loomer accused Means’ father of promoting transgender ideology in a children’s book, further inflaming conservative opposition to the nomination.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet President Trump’s new United States Surgeon General nominee, Dr. Casey Means:
“Half of the kids in America are chronically ill.”
“If you're a doctor who's not spending any time focusing on that… you are bankrolling on the problem.”
“I can think of… pic.twitter.com/HxfgwoyDfY
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 7, 2025
Explosive Allegations of External Control
Perhaps the most startling criticism has come from Nicole Shanahan, who served as RFK Jr.’s vice-presidential running mate before he joined Trump’s team. In remarkably pointed comments, Shanahan suggested that Kennedy is “reporting to someone regularly who is controlling his decisions” and made the explosive claim that there is “something very artificial and aggressive” about Dr. Means and her brother Calley, “almost like they were bred and raised Manchurian assets.”
Calley Means has defended his sister vigorously, describing her as “a Stanford educated physician” who “completed 5 years of residency” before leaving the medical establishment to speak out against perceived problems in the healthcare system. He claimed she had sold 1.5 million copies of her book criticizing the medical system and emphasized that she “worked to encourage RFK to support Trump” and appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast “with the specific intention to convince undecided MAHA voters to support Trump.”
Despite the controversy, Dr. Means has received support from prominent conservative figures, including Donald Trump Jr. and media personality Benny Johnson. The nomination continues to be divisive, highlighting the challenges President Trump faces in balancing different factions within his coalition as he begins his second term in office.