President Donald Trump has chosen Dr. Casey Means, a doctor who is now a well-known supporter of wellness and is closely connected to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be his nominee for surgeon general. This happened after he took back his first choice for this important health job.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump asserted that Means possesses "impeccable 'MAHA' credentials," referencing the "Make America Healthy Again" slogan, and indicated her commitment to eliminating chronic disease and enhancing the health and well-being of American citizens.

“Her academic achievements, coupled with her professional contributions, are truly exceptional,” Trump asserted. “Dr. Casey Means possesses the potential to become one of the most distinguished Surgeon Generals in United States History.”

This action by Trump led to the withdrawal of Janette Nesheiwat, a former medical contributor for Fox News, from consideration for the position, making her at least the second health-related nominee from Trump to be removed from Senate consideration. Nesheiwat's confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee had been scheduled for Thursday.

Means and her sibling, ex-lobbyist Calley Means, were principal advisors to Kennedy's improbable 2024 presidential campaign and facilitated his backing of Trump last summer. The duo featured alongside some of Trump's most fervent advocates, garnering commendation from conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and podcaster Joe Rogan. Presently, Calley Means is a White House advisor who frequently features on television to champion curbs on SNAP benefits, the removal of fluoride from potable water, and other elements of the MAHA platform.

Casey Means, lacking governmental experience, discontinued her surgical residency, citing disillusionment with conventional medicine. Subsequently, she established Levels, a health technology firm enabling users to monitor glycemic levels and other physiological indicators. Furthermore, she generates revenue through the endorsement of dietary supplements, topical applications, infusions, and various other commodities across her social media platforms.

In interviews and articles, Means and her brother say that many things are causing the country's health problems. They mention food companies that are not honest and have made Americans eat unhealthy food, which makes them need daily medicine from drug companies to control problems like obesity, diabetes, and other long-term illnesses.

Most health experts agree that the American diet, which has a lot of processed foods, causes obesity and related health problems. But Means goes further, saying that changes in diet and lifestyle are linked to many conditions like infertility, Alzheimer's, depression, and erectile dysfunction.

"Nearly all chronic health conditions treated by conventional medicine stem from the relentless challenges our cells face due to our current lifestyles," Means stated in a book published in 2024, co-authored with her brother.

Means has mostly avoided Kennedy’s controversial and disproven ideas about vaccines. However, on her website, she asks for more checks on how safe vaccines are and says it should be simpler for patients to take drug companies to court if they are harmed by a vaccine. Since the late 1980s, a federal law has protected these companies from being sued so they would develop vaccines without worrying about expensive lawsuits from people who were injured.

She trained to be a surgeon at Stanford University, but she has become popular online by speaking out against traditional medicine and suggesting natural foods and lifestyle changes to help with obesity, diabetes, and other long-term illnesses.

Were Means to be confirmed as surgeon general, his responsibilities would include advancing Kennedy's extensive MAHA initiative, which advocates for the elimination of numerous additives and chemicals from American foodstuffs, addressing conflicts of interest within federal bodies, and encouraging healthier food options in school meals and similar nutritional schemes.

Nesheiwat, Trump's initial selection, serves as a medical director for a New York-based urgent care firm and has frequently featured on Fox News, providing medical proficiency and perspectives. A prominent advocate for Trump, she often posts images of them together on social media. Furthermore, Nesheiwat is the sister-in-law of former national security adviser Mike Waltz, who has been proposed as Trump's ambassador to the United Nations.

However, she had recently faced criticism from Laura Loomer, a prominent far-right supporter of Trump who played a key role in removing several members of the president’s National Security Council.

Last month, freelance journalist Anthony Clark disclosed that Nesheiwat obtained her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Maarten, contradicting her claim of having a degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. The White House withdrew Nesheiwat’s nomination due to concerns regarding her confirmation prospects, as reported by an anonymous source with knowledge of the administration's decision-making process.

Nesheiwat wrote on social media on Wednesday, saying, "I am excited to keep supporting President Trump and working closely with Secretary Kennedy in a senior policy job to Make America Healthy Again! My main goal is still to make all Americans healthier and happier, and that goal has not changed."

As the country's chief medical officer, the surgeon general is responsible for more than 6,000 members of the U.S. Public Health Service Corps and possesses the authority to release warnings regarding public health dangers.

In March, the White House stopped considering former Florida Republican Representative Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some important Republican senators were worried because he was unsure about vaccines. He then withdrew his name after the White House told him he would not get enough votes to be approved.