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Trump’s surgeon general pick exposes cracks in MAHA movement

10 1
11.05.2025

President Trump’s second choice for U.S. surgeon general has set off a wave of infighting within the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

Casey Means is a prominent health influencer and ally of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but she is seen as insufficiently skeptical of vaccines by some of his prominent supporters — and a “total crack pot” by others in Trump World.

Trump chose the Stanford-educated doctor-turned-chronic disease entrepreneur to be surgeon general after withdrawing his first pick Janette Nesheiwat, a former physician and Fox News host. Means, like Kennedy, has focused much of her health advocacy on diet and nutrition.

“Bobby really thought she was great. I don’t know her. I listened to the recommendation of Bobby,” Trump said of Means. “I met her yesterday and once before. She’s a very outstanding person. A great academic, actually. So I think she’ll be great.”

Nesheiwat’s nomination was withdrawn the day before her Senate confirmation hearing, after media reports called her credentials into question and conservative figures attacked her for praising the COVID-19 vaccines.

Like Kennedy, Means has expressed skepticism about vaccines, promotes food as medicine and is critical of the current health care system. But the pick was unpopular with other health influencers aligned with Kennedy.

“I can't help but think this is a very carefully groomed and selected person. Just about no clinical experience. Talks a great game about everything but vaccines. Feels all........

© The Hill