Trump nominates radiologist Dr. Nicole Saphier as surgeon general
Trump made the announcement on social media on Thursday.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he is nominating Dr. Nicole Saphier to be the next surgeon general.
Trump made the announcement on social media, calling Saphier "a STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment while tirelessly advocating to increase early cancer detection and prevention."
The Surgeon General is colloquially referred to as the "Nation's Doctor" and traditionally provides Americans with scientific information about health such as nutrition, screen time and mental health. The position may be best known for issuing warnings on products.
Saphier is the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth in New Jersey and a regular medical contributor on Fox News.
According to her Memorial Sloan Kettering profile, she has experience "performing minimally invasive, image-guided procedures of the breast, kidney, pancreas, liver, thyroid and lymph nodes."
Saphier has generally indicated support for vaccines. In a video on Fox News Digital, Saphier said the majority of research shows there is no causal link between the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and an increased risk of autism.
This is in contrast with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has previously suggested a link between the two.
However, in the same video, Saphier expressed support for a spread-out childhood immunization schedule and allowing parents to wait until their child is older before receiving recommended vaccines if they so choose.
Like Kennedy, she has also criticized the rise of ultra-processed foods in American diets and has supported kids consuming full-fat dairy, such as whole milk.
Her nomination comes just two months after Trump's previous nominee, Dr. Casey Means, appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee for her confirmation hearing.
During the hearing, Means indicated she supports vaccines but stopped short of recommending certain shots.
Means, who has a medical degree but did not complete her residency and does not hold an active medical license, appeared hesitant to say that some vaccines, such as the flu vaccine, prevent serious disease.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the HELP committee and is a physician, noted that two children died last year from measles and pushed Means on whether she would encourage parents to vaccinate their children with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Means initially stressed personal autonomy and responded that she supported vaccination and that every patient should have a conversation with their doctor about getting vaccinated.
Before nominating Saphier, Trump indicated on social media on Thursday that Cassidy was standing in the way of Means being confirmed by the Senate.
In a post on X, Casey Means' brother Calley Means, who is a senior adviser at HHS and confidante of Kennedy, claimed his sister was being pulled from consideration due to Cassidy's "constant delay tactics."
Saphier is the third person Trump has nominated to the position of surgeon general.
Trump's first pick, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, had her nomination abruptly pulled in May 2025, right before her confirmation hearings were scheduled to begin.
Popular Reads
ABC News Live