Ping Huang

Sapphire talked about the job back in February on her podcast, and she said that the Surgeon General's main role is public health messaging.

Sapphire also said that they need the respect of the medical establishment.

And at the time, in her opinion, that's where the previous nominee, Dr. Casey Means, was falling short.

Why did Dr. Means' nomination get pulled ultimately?

Yeah, so the Surgeon General position has been a whole saga for Trump.

Sapphire is Trump's third pick, and he withdrew his first nominee after scrutiny over how she represented her medical credentials.

Next, he chose Dr. Casey Means, who doesn't have an active medical license.

And at a confirmation hearing in February, she faced pushback from senators, including some Republicans, about her views on vaccines.

She said that she believes vaccines save lives, but stopped short of encouraging parents to vaccinate their kids against measles and flu.

Now, yesterday, Trump called out Republican Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, saying that Cassidy stood in the way of means getting confirmed.

And in response, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, which Cassidy chairs, said on X that it was clear means didn't have the votes.

Cassidy's a doctor, so, you know, he had thoughts.

So where is Dr. Sapphire on these issues?

Well, she's kind of an originator of the Make America Healthy Again movement before Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

took it on.

It's actually the title of a book she published back in 2020.

And David Manstorfer, who served as a health official in Trump's first term, says Sapphire appeals to Republicans.

Now, Sapphire's views on vaccines are a little murky.

She's not against all vaccines, doesn't think they cause autism.

But she's also said that she supports what she calls medical freedom and individuals choosing if and when to get vaccines.