R. Michael Bryan 1st Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
R. Michael Bryan 1st Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, President Donald Trump's nominee for Surgeon General, is facing criticism from conservative circles due to her previous endorsements of COVID-19 vaccinations and mask mandates. Her past comments have drawn scrutiny, despite her recent shift in stance as more data emerged.
Nesheiwat has been vocal about her views on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), particularly criticizing its handling of vaccine rollouts and mandates affecting children. In a 2022 interview with Tucker Carlson, she stated: "There’s no good reason to have a vaccine that can’t stop disease, can’t stop transmission. On the childhood schedule….This vote was irresponsible and illogical."
Critics argue that Nesheiwat's initial support for vaccines and masking protocols reflects poor judgment. During the pandemic, she advocated for booster shots, double-masking, and vaccinating children based on CDC studies. She also praised social media censorship of vaccine skeptics.
Her stance on double-masking was controversial. Nesheiwat claimed: “Wearing two masks will likely give you more protection—between 15 and 20%.” She also supported masking children in schools, which some argue affects their development.
Prominent voices from the medical community have condemned Nesheiwat's nomination. Dr. Simone Gold criticized her praise of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for censoring "anti-vaccine" content. Dr. Simon Goddek echoed this sentiment: “She praises Facebook for censoring anti-vaccine information... This isn’t draining the swamp—it’s empowering it!”
Conservative commentator Viva Frei expressed disapproval: “What Doctor Janette has said about Covid, facemasks, and the ‘vaccines’ is utterly disqualifying… She should respectfully decline the nomination.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, congratulated other nominees but did not endorse Nesheiwat.
The nomination places Trump in a challenging position as he seeks to balance his base's expectations with appointing suitable candidates for office.
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