Dr. Nicole Saphier, Trump’s surgeon general pick, faces Senate questions over her vaccine stance

Key Points:

• Dr. Nicole Saphier, President Trump's third nominee for surgeon general, expressed support for childhood vaccines during her confirmation hearing, stating she does not believe vaccines cause autism and endorsing the MMR vaccine as essential for combating measles.
• Saphier faced intense questioning from Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy about vaccine safety amid the administration's controversial efforts to alter vaccine guidance, which critics warn could increase vaccine hesitancy.
• Despite generally supporting the Trump administration's health policies, Saphier has disagreed with some positions, including Trump's cautions on Tylenol use during pregnancy and criticized the administration's handling of public health transparency.
• Saphier pledged to restore public trust in health communication if confirmed; however, her nomination follows two previous Trump picks who faced setbacks over vaccine views and credentials, and the surgeon general position remains vacant during Trump's second term.
• Ethics filings reveal Saphier holds investments in healthcare, insurance, and processed food companies and owns a company producing unregulated herbal tinctures; she plans to divest or resign from conflicting holdings if confirmed.