Trump surgeon general pick sparks backlash, splits MAHA movement

By Fox News · Fox News

President Donald Trump ’s new nominee for surgeon general is exposing divisions in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, the health-focused coalition elevated inside the administration by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "The new surgeon general nominee, Dr. Nicole Saphier, may have a great pro-life testimony, but she gets an F when it comes to all things MAHA," said Turning Point USA health and wellness podcaster Alex Clark — a comment shared by other MAHA activists like Kelly Ryerson, an anti-pesticide advocate also known online as "Glyphosate Girl." "DOGE the Surgeon General!!! We want medical freedom!!!! If not Casey - we take no one!" added Vani Hari, also known online as "Feed Babe" and a prominent figure inside the MAHA movement. She recently told The Atlantic that failing to confirm Means would "ruin the soul of MAHA." TRUMP SURGEON GENERAL NOMINEE CONFIRMATION HEARING POSTPONED AS SHE GOES INTO LABOR After Trump's initial pick for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, was withdrawn in 2025, Trump selected Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician, wellness author and entrepreneur, and vocal MAHA proponent who was close to Kennedy as he helped develop the Trump administration's health agenda. Means' nomination was withdrawn Thursday, and she was replaced with radiologist and former Fox News contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier amid a stalled confirmation process leading up to the eventual pivot. Trump announced that Means' nomination would be withdrawn from his Truth Social platform Thursday and replaced with Saphier amid the stalled confirmation process, in part caused by Means' pregnancy during the process and the need for extensive vetting, a source familiar with the nomination told Fox News Digital. Minutes before Trump announced the pivot to Saphier on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called Means "a strong MAHA Warrior, at the recommendation of Secretary Kennedy, who understands the MAHA Movement better than…