Nicole Saphier Is Trump’s New Pick For Surgeon General—What To Know About Her Healthcare Agenda

May 1, 2026 - 19:48

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Dr. Nicole Saphier as his nominee for U.S. Surgeon General, elevating a Fox News medical contributor and radiologist who largely supports the "Make America Healthy Again" movement. Saphier, who currently practices at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, has built a public profile as a conservative commentator on health issues. Her agenda aligns with Trump's calls to reduce chronic disease, reform the food industry, and challenge public health orthodoxy on issues like vaccine mandates.

However, Saphier has not always marched in lockstep with the Trump administration's past positions. She has publicly supported certain vaccine requirements for schoolchildren, a stance that puts her at odds with some anti-vaccine voices in the movement. She has also expressed caution about completely dismantling the Affordable Care Act without a replacement, diverging from Trump's repeated calls to repeal the law. On opioid policy, she has advocated for expanding access to addiction treatment, which goes further than some conservative approaches.

If confirmed, Saphier would become the nation's top doctor, tasked with communicating health guidance to the public. Her appointment signals a focus on lifestyle medicine and a skepticism of federal health agencies, but her willingness to break with Trump on specific policies suggests she may pursue a more independent path than some of his other health picks. The Senate will hold confirmation hearings in the coming months.