Trump's Surgeon General Nominee Backs MMR Vaccine, Rejects Autism Link

President Donald Trump's nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Nicole Saphier, stated her support for the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and rejected the notion that childhood vaccines cause autism during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday.

Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News contributor, is vying to become the federal government's top doctor at a time when measles cases are rising across the United States. "I believe the MMR vaccine is our greatest tool for combatting measles," Saphier told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

When asked by Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy if she agreed with Trump's past suggestion that the MMR vaccine could be "quite lethal," Saphier responded, "As a physician, I can tell you that I do not believe the MMR vaccine to be lethal."

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., under whom Saphier would serve if confirmed, has consistently advocated for the MMR vaccine. "The two-dose MMR vaccine is our safest and most effective tool to prevent this highly contagious illness," Kennedy stated in March 2025. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends the MMR vaccine, although the Trump administration has previously favored separating the vaccine into three doses.

Saphier also addressed past statements by Kennedy, who as a presidential candidate had suggested a link between vaccines and autism. "Well, humbly, I don't know what causes autism, but I have not seen reputable evidence that would suggest that vaccines cause autism," Saphier said. "I do not believe childhood vaccines cause autism."

During her confirmation hearing, Saphier also discussed the hepatitis B vaccine, stating its importance in preventing cancer. When questioned about the Trump administration's December decision to stop universally recommending the hepatitis B vaccine at birth for infants whose mothers test negative for the virus, Saphier did not explicitly state whether the policy should be reversed.

If confirmed, Saphier indicated she would focus on promoting early cancer screenings, reviewing data on the harms of flavored e-cigarettes, and studying the mental health effects of AI chatbots on children and adolescents.

Trump nominated Saphier in April. Her nomination followed that of Dr. Casey Means, whose bid for the surgeon general role did not advance sufficiently in the Senate. A previous nominee, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, had her nomination withdrawn in May 2025.

Saphier currently serves as the director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Monmouth, New Jersey location. She previously authored the book "Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion-Dollar Crisis."