The role of Surgeon General has long been a contentious position, often criticized as wasteful and counterproductive, particularly if the goal is to genuinely improve public health rather than advance special interests. Some argue that it’s a position the federal government could do without entirely. Many Americans, frustrated with public health overreach, might prefer a figure like RFK Jr., who champions environmental and regulatory reform aimed at protecting public health over bureaucratic edicts.
However, if the Surgeon General’s position must continue, critics argue that Trump’s nominee, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, is a poor choice for the role.
Via Politico:
*“President-elect Donald Trump said Friday he has chosen Dr. Janette Nesheiwat to serve as surgeon general in his new administration.
Nesheiwat is a Fox News medical contributor and serves as a medical director at CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey.
‘Dr. Nesheiwat is a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health to live longer, healthier lives.’*
Critics have questioned why Trump’s statement included what they perceive as overly polished, bureaucratic language that doesn’t reflect his usual straightforward style.
Nesheiwat, who specializes in emergency and family medicine, has been a vocal supporter of vaccines — a stance that has put her at odds with Trump’s nominee for HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has raised concerns about vaccine safety.
Nesheiwat’s views go beyond support for vaccines. She has publicly praised censorship of opposing views on public health issues. For example, during Facebook’s heavy-handed COVID-19 content moderation efforts — which silenced dissenting voices under the guise of protecting public health — Nesheiwat appeared supportive of such measures.
She described COVID-19 vaccines as a “gift from God” and made alarmist claims in 2021 on Fox News, warning that COVID-19 was “putting our children in the hospital in record numbers” and causing ICU bed shortages nationwide. These statements, later shown to be misleading or outright false, were never challenged during her appearances on the network.
For many Trump supporters, this nomination feels like a betrayal. They elected him to challenge the very public health establishment Nesheiwat appears to align with. Critics argue that her selection undermines the frustrations and distrust that fueled Trump’s rise, particularly regarding the handling of COVID-19 and public health overreach.
Trump’s decision to nominate Nesheiwat has raised questions about who influenced this choice and why it seems so out of step with the anti-establishment message his voters supported. For those disillusioned with the Public Health™ system, this nomination feels like a misstep that fails to address their concerns.
