Trump's Surgeon General Nominee Under Fire from Conservatives as 'Disqualifying' Past Comments Come to Light

To put it mildly, President-elect Donald Trump has more than earned the benefit of the doubt.

That said, millions of MAGA supporters have previously disagreed with Trump on several COVID-related policies, and they should feel no hesitation in challenging him again if he makes decisions that seem inconsistent with their principles and values.

A 2022 interview on Fox News featuring Surgeon General nominee Dr. Janette Nesheiwat has recently resurfaced on X, drawing significant backlash. In the interview, Nesheiwat made remarks about transgender ideology that at least one X user labeled as “disqualifying.”

Clips from the interview sparked further outrage among conservatives already critical of her nomination.

Scarlett Johnson, a member of the pro-women, pro-children, and pro-parent organization “Moms for Liberty,” shared one of these clips online.

In the footage, Nesheiwat acknowledged the risks of gender transition but then appeared to endorse the broader ideology.

“No matter what gender your child identifies, accept them and love them for who they are,” Nesheiwat stated in 2022.

In her accompanying post, Johnson criticized Nesheiwat, declaring that she is “not one of us.”

Chloe Cole, a former “trans” kid who detransitioned at 16 and shared her story in the New York Post, also condemned Nesheiwat’s comments as “disqualifying.”

Cole described transgenderism as “a mental illness that should never be ‘affirmed.’”

Another segment of the same interview fueled additional criticism. In it, Nesheiwat described gender dysphoria as a “disconnect” between how adolescents feel and “what a doctor assigned them as a gender at birth,” implying that medical professionals arbitrarily label infants as male or female.

She also cited the claim that “transgender adolescents” face “a very high suicidal rate,” making them “almost eight times more likely to commit suicide” than their cisgender peers.

“Suicidal”? Perhaps. But the claim of being “almost eight times more likely to commit suicide”? Questionable.

As reported by City Journal, ACLU attorney Chase Strangio admitted during recent Supreme Court oral arguments that “no evidence” supports the idea that gender-affirming treatments reduce completed suicides, which Strangio called “rare.” However, the attorney argued that such treatments reduce “suicidality.”

Moreover, Nesheiwat’s use of the term “cisgender” has only deepened conservative opposition, with many viewing it as disqualifying in itself.

These resurfaced clips are unlikely to help Nesheiwat’s candidacy as Surgeon General.

Conservatives were already critical of her ties to the COVID response, which they see as emblematic of the broader “COVID regime.”

Nesheiwat supported lockdowns, mask mandates, and social distancing. She also endorsed the COVID “vaccine” and praised Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for his censorship of COVID-related content.

While Trump’s nominations often receive enthusiastic backing from his supporters, Nesheiwat’s appointment has faced widespread resistance.

For these reasons, many in Trump’s base believe this nomination cannot go forward.