President Trump has withdrawn his controversial Surgeon General nominee Dr. Janette Nesheiwat — after widespread outrage from conservative grassroots — and instead selected Dr. Casey Means, a physician-turned-wellness influencer whose résumé and associations are now under intense fire.
Dr. Nesheiwat, whose record includes cheerleading COVID-19 lockdowns, mask mandates, child vaccinations, and boosters, was seen by many in the MAGA base as a disastrous pick.
Dr. Nesheiwat has since adjusted her stance as more data became available. She criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for its handling of the vaccine’s rollout and mandates, particularly its impact on children.
Despite her recent reversals on these positions, critics argue that these initial missteps reflect poor judgment.
Facing mounting outrage from his base, Trump yanked the nomination, and she is now being reassigned to serve under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump then tapped Dr. Casey Means instead, touting her “impeccable MAHA credentials” and anti-establishment medical reform platform.
Unfortunately for Trump, the backlash didn’t stop—it only intensified. Critics say Means is unqualified, unlicensed, and “engineered.”
Investigative journalist Laura Loomer led the charge, blasting Means as a social media influencer with no surgical training, no active medical license in Oregon, where she practiced, and a history of cozying up to anti-Trump narratives.
Loomer wrote on X, stating, “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 doesn’t even have an active medical license in the state where she allegedly practiced medicine? Does Casey Means even have an active medical license in any state?? This is so embarrassing for the Trump administration. They chose a social media influencer who sells supplements who didn’t even support Donald Trump to be the US Surgeon General. Who is doing the vetting?????”
Loomer further exposed that Dr. Means’ father, Grady Means, allegedly authored a children’s book promoting transgender ideology titled The Adventures of Felix the Flamingo, a story explicitly meant to affirm “gender diverse” children.
Loomer claimed Casey Means shares her father’s views, warning that “we are now going to have a Democrat US Surgeon General” whose family pushes “child mutilation.”
EXCLUSIVE
The father of @CaseyMeansMD Casey Means, the new Trump appointed US Surgeon General wrote a pro-trans children’s book.
Casey Means never supported Donald Trump, and she doesn’t even have an active medical license in Oregon where she says she’s a doctor.
She… https://t.co/pcEpIzaZAn pic.twitter.com/RPPIjPhKRI
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) May 8, 2025
In a quick rebuttal, Casey’s brother, Calley Means, who was recently appointed by the White House as an adviser in HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., defended her record and called the attacks dishonest:
Calley Means: “She is a Stanford educated physician. She completed 5 years of residency. She left the system to speak out – she wrote a book about this that sold 1.5 million copies to inspire others to leave the medical system and reform it.
She is the single best person in the world on connecting the dots behind our chronic diseases crisis – and her reason for existence is to help President reverse these trends. She worked to encourage RFK to support Trump and we went on Joe Rogan with the specific intention to convince undecided MAHA voters to support Trump.”
She is a Stanford educated physician. She completed 5 years of residency. She left the system to speak out – she wrote a book about this that sold 1.5 million copies to inspire others to leave the medical system and reform it. She is the single best person in the world on… https://t.co/BKIVV8a7RK
— Calley Means (@calleymeans) May 8, 2025
But the most damning blow came from inside the RFK Jr. camp.
Nicole Shanahan—RFK Jr.’s former running mate and the most high-profile anti-establishment voice in his campaign—publicly denounced the appointment in a bombshell X:
Shanahan: “It’s very strange. Doesn’t make any sense. I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be).
I don’t know if RFK very clearly lied to me, or what is going on. It has been clear in recent conversations that he is reporting to someone regularly who is controlling his decisions (and it isn’t President Trump). With regards to the siblings, there is something very artificial and aggressive about them, almost like they were bred and raised Manchurian assets.”
Yes, it’s very strange. Doesn’t make any sense. I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be). I don’t know if RFK very clearly… https://t.co/KDb5O5MvAM
— Nicole Shanahan (@NicoleShanahan) May 8, 2025
Yet amid the uproar, several prominent voices have come forward to support Dr. Means.
A true force of nature—@CaseyMeansMD is a genius physician who has educated millions of Americans about the real story on health. She is also one of the most caring people I have ever known. This is a great day in America.
Congratulations Casey! Can’t wait to have you on board!! https://t.co/SdiftPGo6Z
— Dr. Martin Makary (@DrMakaryFDA) May 7, 2025
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
This is Dr. Casey Means, an absolute MAHA warrior and President Trump’s new nominee for Surgeon General of the United States:
“Health is getting destroyed in the United States, which we don’t really talk about, because it’s not profitable to heal in this country. It’s… pic.twitter.com/CPqVtt9smr
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 7, 2025
Excellent pick. Huge for MAHA!!! @CaseyMeansMD @calleymeans pic.twitter.com/VB3NDSqAIj
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 7, 2025
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