President-elect Donald Trump is encountering criticism from his supporters over several high-profile nominations for his second administration’s health sector leadership. The backlash primarily focuses on the selection of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as Surgeon General and Mehmet Oz as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Trump’s campaign heavily emphasized health reforms through the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, developed in partnership with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Many supporters expected the new administration to align with MAHA’s goals, including skepticism of globalist organizations and vaccine mandates. However, recent nominations have left some Trump loyalists disappointed, citing connections to the World Economic Forum (WEF) and perceived pro-vaccine positions.
Prominent accounts on social media platform X voiced their disapproval. The Patriot Voice, an account with over 135,000 followers, criticized Nesheiwat for previously praising COVID-19 vaccines as a “gift from God” and supporting censorship during the pandemic.
In a tweet, he expressed frustration, stating, “BAD picks for the next Admin deserve to be properly called out & shamed. We are NOT in a damn cult. It is NOT only his Admin, but more than that it is WE THE PEOPLE who prayed for, grinded for, and ultimately voted for Trump.”
Similarly, Mindy MF Robinson, a commentator with over 435,000 followers, expressed frustration over the nominations, labeling the nominees as “pro-COVID tyranny” advocates. Her remarks reflected a broader sentiment among Trump’s base that nominees should be held accountable for their stances during the pandemic.
Other social media influencers, including Ian Carroll and Eric Metaxas, echoed these concerns, intensifying the pressure on Trump’s administration to justify its choices. Despite strong support for Trump’s overall agenda, his nominations of individuals seen as aligned with establishment health policies have provoked unease among many of his followers.
The only widely supported health-sector nominee is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is set to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy’s stance on vaccine skepticism and his leadership in the MAHA movement have solidified his support among Trump’s base.
In addition to Nesheiwat and Oz, Trump’s health sector appointees include Dr. Dave Weldon as Director of the CDC, Dr. Marty Makary as Commissioner of the FDA, and Kennedy. While these picks collectively signal a mix of traditional and reformist strategies, the backlash underscores growing divisions within Trump’s base over how health policy should be handled.
Nesheiwat’s past statements during the pandemic, including describing COVID-19 vaccines as a “gift from God,” have particularly drawn ire. Critics argue that she has not sufficiently addressed concerns about vaccine safety and has not retracted controversial statements supporting social media censorship of vaccine-related discussions.
Oz, a celebrity doctor and former Senate candidate, has also faced skepticism. His perceived ties to globalist organizations and previous promotion of pharmaceutical products have fueled distrust among Trump loyalists.
Many supporters have expressed lingering discontent over Trump’s role in Operation Warp Speed, which expedited the release of COVID-19 vaccines that, according to some studies, have killed millions of people. On Truth Social, Trump’s own platform, posts boasting about the initiative attract almost only criticism.