0
0
WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House has retracted the nomination of Janette Nesheiwat, a medical contributor for Fox News, for the position of U.S. surgeon general. This marks the second health-related nomination from President Donald Trump to be withdrawn during Senate review.
Nesheiwat, who serves as a medical director for an urgent care facility in New York and frequently appears on Fox News providing medical commentary, was scheduled to testify before the Senate Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing. The decision to withdraw her nomination was confirmed by two sources familiar with the matter who requested anonymity as the announcement had not yet been made publicly.
A vocal supporter of Trump, Nesheiwat often shares photos with the former president on social media. However, her nomination faced criticism from Laura Loomer, a far-right Trump associate known for her role in reshaping the president’s Security Council. Loomer publicly questioned Nesheiwat’s qualifications on the social media platform X, stating, “Can’t a pro-Trump appointee be someone who is not embroiled in a medical practice case and who went to medical school in the U.S.?”
According to CBS News, Nesheiwat earned her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, which has raised questions about her credentials compared to claims of attending other institutions.
The surgeon general serves as the nation’s leading public health official, overseeing approximately 6,000 members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and holding the authority to issue public health warnings.
This withdrawal follows a similar move in March when the White House pulled the nomination of former Florida GOP Representative Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Weldon, who faced skepticism over his vaccine stance from prominent Republican senators, withdrew after being informed that he lacked sufficient Senate support.
Bloomberg News was the first to report on the withdrawal of Nesheiwat’s nomination.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information available as of May 8, 2025. Developments may occur after this date that could affect the accuracy of the content. Readers are encouraged to consult official sources for the most current information.
Citations:
