Headline Roundup • May 8th, 2025
Trump Nominates MAHA Advisor Casey Means for Surgeon General After Withdrawing First Pick
Summary from the AllSides News Team
President Trump has nominated Dr. Casey Means for Surgeon General after the withdrawal of his initial nominee, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat.
The Details: Means is a Stanford-trained physician and co-founded the health tech company Levels who has been a key advisor to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She also has considerable followings on social media and co-authored a New York Times bestselling book. Prior to advising Kennedy and his ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) movement, she had experience in government.
For Context: Nesheiwat, who has previously contributed to Fox News (Right bias) faced criticism from the MAHA community and will now serve in a different role at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
How The Media Covered It: The Guardian (Left) highlighted Means’ lack of government experience, closeness to RFK Jr., and status as a wellness influencer. It also pointed out the criticism she has received from food experts who argue that her views simplify the causes of chronic disease. The New York Post (Lean Right) noted the “massive backlash” Trump faced from his base over the initial nomination of Nesheiwat, and framed the nomination of Means as more acceptable to Trump's base.
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Featured Coverage of this Story
Ben Curtis/AP
Donald Trump has tapped Dr Casey Means, a wellness influencer with close ties to Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, as nominee for surgeon general after withdrawing his initial pick for the influential health post.
The US president said in a social media post on Wednesday that Means has “impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials” – referring to the “make America healthy again” slogan – and that she will work to eradicate chronic disease and improve the health and wellbeing of Americans.
“Her academic achievements, together with her life’s work, are absolutely...
President Trump said he would nominate Casey Means, a California doctor and wellness influencer, to be the next surgeon general.
Means has become more prominent with the rise of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement. She and her brother, Kennedy adviser Calley Means, wrote a book, “Good Energy,” that became popular with Trump campaign staffers and later with Kennedy.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, praised her MAHA credentials. He said she would work with Kennedy “to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health,...
President Trump yanked his nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat to be the next US surgeon general, opting instead to elevate someone with “impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials.” — one day before the nominee was scheduled to appear for confirmation hearings.
“I am pleased to announce that Dr. Casey Means, will be nominated as our next Surgeon General of the United States of America,” Trump posted on Truth Social Wednesday, bumping Nesheiwat to a separate –and unidentified — role at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“Casey has impeccable ‘[Make America Healthy Again]’ credentials,...
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