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Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal

The Administration · Health agencies

Nicole Saphier

Surgeon General nominee Nominee

A breast-imaging radiologist and former Fox News contributor, she is the president's third pick for surgeon general, a post that has sat empty for the whole of this term.

Biography

Nicole Saphier was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, and studied at Arizona State University and Ross University School of Medicine before a radiology residency in Phoenix and a cancer imaging fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. 1 She is a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Monmouth, New Jersey site, and holds active medical licenses in New York, New Jersey and Arizona. 2

She joined Fox News as a medical contributor in 2018 and stayed until her nomination. 1 2 Her 2020 book, Make America Healthy Again, argued that personal behavior and big government had driven up health costs, and a 2021 book criticized the pandemic response. 2 She hosts a podcast called Wellness Unmasked and started a company, DropRx, that sells supplements the Food and Drug Administration does not review for effectiveness. 2

President Trump named her on April 30, 2026, when he withdrew the stalled nomination of Casey Means, and blamed Senate health chairman Bill Cassidy for blocking Means. 2 She is the third nominee for the job this term, after Janette Nesheiwat and Means. 4 At her September 16 hearing she said childhood vaccines do not cause autism and that the measles shot is the country's best tool against the disease. 3

The Senate health committee advanced her 12-11 on September 30, 2026, with Cassidy voting yes and Sen. Bernie Sanders opposed. 3 4 A floor vote was put off until after the midterm elections. 4 In the meantime a health department communications official, Stephanie Haridopolos, has carried out some of the surgeon general's duties. 4

In the job

The acts and events that have defined the post so far, oldest first.

  1. Trump withdrew Casey Means's nomination, which had stalled since her February 25 hearing, and named Saphier. 2

  2. At her confirmation hearing she said she does not believe childhood vaccines cause autism and called the hepatitis B shot given at birth safe and effective. 3

  3. The Senate health committee advanced her nomination 12-11 along party lines. 3 4

  4. A full Senate vote was deferred until after the November midterm elections. 4

Disputes, and their side

What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.

  1. She posted that the CDC was preparing to require COVID-19 vaccines for schoolchildren; The Washington Post found the claim was false, CBS News reported. 2

    Their side: No public response found.

  2. Sen. Bernie Sanders said he would vote against her because she had questioned the hepatitis B dose given to newborns; she also did not give a yes-or-no answer when Cassidy asked whether a parent should give a child the measles shot. 3 4

    Their side: At the hearing she called the newborn hepatitis B dose safe and effective and described the measles vaccine as the best tool against the disease. 3 4

  3. Some figures in the Make America Healthy Again movement, including Robert Malone, opposed her as too moderate, according to Wikipedia's summary. 1

    Their side: No public response found.

Career

  1. Medical contributor at Fox News Channel
  2. Published Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion-Dollar Crisis
  3. Published a book criticizing the COVID-19 pandemic response
  4. Published Love, Mom, a collection of stories about motherhood
  5. Radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Monmouth
  6. Nominee for Surgeon General of the United States

Our reporting

We have not yet published a story that names Nicole Saphier. When we do, it will appear here.

Sources for this file

  1. Wikipedia, Nicole Saphier, Nov. 13, 2026
  2. CBS News, Trump pulls Casey Means' nomination as surgeon general, names Nicole Saphier as replacement, April 30, 2026
  3. AP (via ClickOrlando), Senate committee advances Dr. Nicole Saphier's nomination for surgeon general, Sept. 30, 2026
  4. The National News Desk (via KATV), Senate panel advances surgeon general nominee Nicole Saphier, Sept. 30, 2026
  5. Wikipedia, Surgeon General of the United States, Nov. 13, 2026

File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.