The fog of controversy is swirling around President Donald Trump’s latest choice for Surgeon General, Dr. Casey Means. This wellness influencer and author is in the hot seat, under fire from both sides of the aisle following her nomination.
Trump pulled a switcheroo, nominating Means after withdrawing his initial pick, former Fox News contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat. And it’s not just any ol’ nomination. Means, whose kin, Calley Means, serves as a top advisor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy Jr., is catching heat for her limited exposure to public health or medicine, her early exit from a surgical residency program, and her skepticism about vaccines.
Robert Kennedy Jr. leapt to her defense, stating, “The absurd attacks on Casey Means reveal just how far off course our healthcare conversations have veered, and how badly entrenched interests – including Big Food and its industry-funded social media gurus – are terrified of change.” He considers her departure from the traditional medical system not a liability, but an asset that makes her the ideal candidate for Surgeon General.
The criticism isn’t just from the left. Conservative influencer Laura Loomer, who vocally opposed Trump’s initial pick, is also taking issue with the nomination of Means. “This is honestly insane,” she penned on social media. “I do not believe for one second that Donald Trump made this decision. I refuse to believe it.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Surgeon General position carries significant influence over the nation’s health policies. This makes the current controversy surrounding Dr. Means more than just political mudslinging; it’s a question of our collective health, our shared well-being.
What we know for certain is this… the story is far from over. It isn’t just about Dr. Casey Means. It’s about how we, as a nation, navigate the intersection of politics, public health, and the individual freedoms we hold dear.