Trump’s Second Attempt at Surgeon General Backfires as Allies, Influencers, and RFK Jr.’s VP Turn on Dr. Casey Means
In a political twist packed with suspicion, scandal, and splintering loyalties, President Trump’s revised pick for Surgeon General — Dr. Casey Means — has triggered an even deeper backlash than his original nominee, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, igniting a full-blown ideological firestorm within the MAGA and RFK-aligned movements.
Nesheiwat Yanked After Conservative Uproar
Initially, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat was nominated despite a checkered record on COVID-19, including support for lockdowns, mandates, and child vaccinations — all red flags to Trump’s base. Her nomination was quickly torpedoed by outraged grassroots activists, forcing Trump to withdraw her and reassign her to a subordinate role at HHS under RFK Jr.
But what followed was anything but damage control.
Enter Dr. Casey Means — And the Firestorm Begins
Trump’s replacement nominee, Dr. Casey Means, is a Stanford-trained physician turned wellness influencer, with no active medical license and a controversial online presence. Her appointment has been met with fierce opposition led by firebrand investigative journalist Laura Loomer:
“Trump’s Surgeon General pick is a supplement-selling influencer with no active license, no support for Trump, and deep ties to anti-MAGA circles,” Loomer wrote on X.
“Who is vetting these people?”
Loomer also revealed Dr. Means’ father authored a children’s book promoting gender ideology, and accused the Means family of “pushing child mutilation” under the guise of health.
Shanahan Drops Bombshell Accusation: “Manchurian Assets”
The controversy escalated dramatically when Nicole Shanahan, RFK Jr.’s former VP pick and a major anti-establishment voice, dropped a devastating rebuke of the Means siblings:
“It’s very strange. Doesn’t make any sense… I was promised these siblings would not be involved. There is something very artificial and aggressive about them — almost like they were bred and raised as Manchurian assets.”
Her statement has sent shockwaves through the Kennedy and Trump camps, raising deep concerns about influence operations, ideological infiltration, and loyalty within the populist movement.
Calley Means Fights Back
Dr. Means’ brother, Calley Means — now a health adviser in the RFK-aligned HHS — pushed back hard:
“She’s the best person in the world to reverse chronic disease. Stanford-trained, bestselling author, and a fierce critic of the corrupt medical system.”
Calley insisted their mission was to convince RFK to support Trump and that their presence is a strategic reform effort, not a betrayal.
MAGA Infighting Goes Nuclear
While a few voices have defended Dr. Means, the backlash has exposed a fracture in the populist medical freedom coalition:
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RFK loyalists feel blindsided by her rapid rise.
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Trump supporters question whether this appointment is a setup.
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Grassroots conservatives demand accountability, warning this is another case of “influencers over experts.”
Conclusion: The Price of Influence?
Trump’s decision to replace one controversial nominee with another has morphed into a litmus test for loyalty, credibility, and ideological purity. And with Shanahan’s explosive claims hanging in the air, the question is no longer just about Dr. Means’ credentials — it’s about who’s really pulling the strings behind the health policy agenda in a post-COVID America.
