The White House’s pick for surgeon general has sparked a bitter feud among President Trump’s allies. Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer with ties to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now faces fierce opposition from Kennedy’s former running mate, Nicole Shanahan. The conservative firebrand blasted Means’ nomination, calling her “artificial and aggressive” and claiming Kennedy broke promises to keep the Means siblings out of government.
Shanahan accused Means of having “conflicts of interest” due to her biometrics company, Levels, which critics say could profit from health data policies. The Silicon Valley-linked startup sells blood sugar monitors and promotes unproven dietary supplements. Conservatives worry this could undermine public trust in federal health guidance, especially after years of Big Tech overreach.
The feud exposes growing cracks in the “Make America Healthy Again” coalition. While Trump praised Means’ credentials, Shanahan claimed Kennedy privately vowed to block her and her brother, White House adviser Calley Means, from power. “Doesn’t make any sense,” Shanahan fumed. “I was promised they’d never get appointments.” She hinted that Kennedy might be taking orders from shadowy figures outside Trump’s orbit.
Means’ background raises red flags for grassroots patriots. She dropped out of a surgical residency to launch Levels, which critics call a vanity project for the wealthy. Her company’s ties to tech elites clash with Trump’s America First agenda. “This isn’t draining the swamp,” one MAHA insider grumbled. “It’s rebranding coastal elitism as populism.”
Shanahan’s bombshells have left conservatives divided. Some applaud Means’ anti-establishment stance on chronic disease, while others fear she’ll push Kennedy’s controversial health policies. The siblings previously advised Kennedy’s failed presidential bid before brokering his endorsement of Trump. Their behind-the-scenes maneuvering has sparked suspicions of a “political 4D chess” game.
The surgeon general drama comes amid broader concerns about Kennedy’s loyalty. Shanahan suggested he might be “reporting to someone” other than Trump, echoing fears that deep-state holdouts are infiltrating the administration. “RFK Jr. needs to come clean,” demanded a popular conservative podcaster. “Is he working for the American people or Silicon Valley billionaires?”
Grassroots activists are demanding transparency about Levels’ data practices. The company’s partnership with Big Tech firms could let left-wing corporations harvest sensitive health information from Trump supporters. “This isn’t just about conflicts of interest,” warned a Tea Party leader. “It’s about protecting our freedoms from the surveillance state.”
As the GOP civil war heats up, Trump faces pressure to scrap the nomination. While Means touts her “food as medicine” agenda, critics argue real reform requires leaders who’ll take on Big Pharma and corporate giants—not cut deals with them. “America needs a surgeon general who puts patients first,” Shanahan declared. “Not another swamp creature.”
