Trump Nominates Wellness Influencer for Surgeon General

Former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams criticizes the pick, saying 'the nation's doctor wouldn't even be in the corps as a doctor'.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:03pm

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A cinematic painting in the style of Edward Hopper, depicting a lone figure of a doctor standing in an empty, dimly lit hospital hallway, the scene bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of solitude and uncertainty.The nomination of a wellness influencer to lead the nation's public health efforts raises concerns about the future of the Surgeon General's office.Washington Today

Former President Donald Trump has nominated Casey Means, a Stanford-educated physician who let her medical license lapse in favor of becoming a wellness influencer, to be the next U.S. Surgeon General. The nomination has faced criticism from Trump's previous Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, who says Means does not meet the traditional requirements for the role.

Why it matters

The Surgeon General is considered the 'nation's doctor' and is expected to uphold the standards and ethics of the medical profession. Means' background as a wellness influencer rather than a practicing physician has raised concerns about her qualifications and ability to effectively serve in this important public health role.

The details

Means was nominated by Trump in May 2025, but her confirmation remains on hold in the Senate as both Republicans and Democrats question her stance on vaccines and her disdain for the traditional medical establishment. Dr. Jerome Adams, who served as Surgeon General under Trump's first term, has spoken out against the nomination, stating that if confirmed, Means would not be appointed as a physician, but rather under the category of 'health-service worker'. 'The irony would be the nation's doctor wouldn't even be in the corps as a doctor,' Adams said.

  • Trump nominated Casey Means for Surgeon General in May 2025.
  • Means' nomination remains on hold in the Senate as of March 2026.

The players

Casey Means

A Stanford-educated physician who let her medical license lapse in favor of becoming a wellness influencer, nominated by former President Trump to be the next U.S. Surgeon General.

Dr. Jerome Adams

The former Surgeon General who served under President Trump's first term, and has criticized Means' nomination, stating she does not meet the traditional requirements for the role.

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What they’re saying

“'The role of surgeon general has centuries of precedent and requirements, and she doesn't meet them. The irony would be the nation's doctor wouldn't even be in the corps as a doctor.'”

— Dr. Jerome Adams, Former Surgeon General

What’s next

Means' nomination remains on hold in the Senate, where both Republicans and Democrats have expressed concerns about her qualifications and stance on medical issues.

The takeaway

The nomination of a wellness influencer rather than a practicing physician to the role of Surgeon General has raised serious questions about the Trump administration's commitment to upholding the medical expertise and ethical standards traditionally associated with this important public health position.