Trump Withdraws Nomination of Jordanian-American Janette Nesheiwat for Surgeon General Amid Party Pressure
Dr. Nesheiwat’s nomination pulled following backlash over COVID stance; Trump pivots to Casey Means and MAHA-aligned health agenda.
Watan-Less than 24 hours before her scheduled appearance before the U.S. Senate, President Donald Trump withdrew the nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for Surgeon General—a move widely interpreted as a response to internal political pressure, particularly from supporters of his health movement, “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA).
Despite earlier praise, the withdrawal came amid a wave of criticism from prominent conservative and medical figures who objected to Nesheiwat’s past positions, especially her public support for COVID-19 preventive measures—such as recommending double masking, as published in her Fox News columns.
A source close to the White House stated, “Both MAHA supporters and COVID vaccine skeptics were opposed to her nomination from the start.”
Other contributing factors included a widely panned television appearance and her family ties to Congressman Mike Waltz, who is himself facing political shifts after being removed from his role as National Security Advisor.
I am looking forward to continuing to support President Trump and working closely with Secretary Kennedy in a senior policy role to Make America Healthy Again! My focus continues to be on improving the health and well-being of all Americans, and that mission hasn’t changed.
— Dr Janette Nesheiwat (@DoctorJanette) May 7, 2025
In contrast, the nomination of Dr. Casey Means is seen as reinforcing Trump’s alignment with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s effort to build a health team more in line with his alternative health vision—especially given Means’ connection to the MAHA project and her brother, Calley Means, who already works in the department.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Casey has impeccable credentials aligned with MAHA and will be pivotal in fighting the chronic disease epidemic.”
While Nesheiwat hasn’t been completely sidelined—she will reportedly be appointed to another position within the Department of Health—Trump’s reversal underscores the delicate balance within his camp, especially amid Kennedy’s rising influence and growing opposition to traditional medical approaches within the Republican base.
The U.S. Surgeon General is the nation’s top federal public health advisor, tasked with delivering health recommendations to the American public and leading national awareness on medical and preventive issues.
