WASHINGTON – The White House has decided to withdraw the nomination of Janette Nesheiwat, a former Fox News medical contributor, from the position of U.S. surgeon general. This marks at least the second time President Donald Trump has had to retract a health-related nominee from Senate deliberation.
This decision has been confirmed by two individuals familiar with the situation. Nesheiwat was initially set to attend her confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday. These sources requested anonymity as the decision has not been officially announced yet.
Nesheiwat currently serves as a medical director for an urgent care company in New York and frequently appears on Fox News to provide medical insights and expertise. As an ardent Trump supporter, she often shares photos with him on social media. Additionally, Nesheiwat is related by marriage to former national security adviser Mike Waltz, who has been nominated as Trump’s choice for the United Nations ambassador role.
But she has recently come under criticism from Laura Loomer, a far-right ally of Trump who was instrumental in ousting several members of the president’s National Security Council. Loomer posted on X earlier this week that “we can’t have a pro-COVID vaccine nepo appointee who is currently embroiled in a medical malpractice case and who didn’t go to medical school in the US” as the surgeon general.
CBS News reported last week that Nesheiwat earned her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Maarten, despite saying that she has a degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine.
The surgeon general, considered the nation’s doctor, oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members and can issue advisories that warn of public health threats.
In March, the White House pulled from consideration the nomination of former Florida GOP Rep. Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His skepticism on vaccines had raised concerns from key Republican senators, and he withdrew after being told by the White House that he did not have enough support to be confirmed.
The withdrawal was first reported by Bloomberg News.
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