Maddow Blog-Asked about his new surgeon general nominee, Trump says, 'I don't know her'

[LetMyPeopleVote]

As a rule, it’s not a great sign for a nominee when, one day after being introduced, a president says he doesn’t know that person.

Asked about his new surgeon general nominee, Trump says, ‘I don’t know her’ www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo... Asked about his new surgeon general nominee, Trump says, ‘I don’t know her’

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/casey-means-surgeon-general-nominee-trump-dont-know-her-rcna205845

Late Wednesday afternoon, Donald Trump surprised much of the political world with an announcement: The president had decided to abandon Dr. Janette Nesheiwat’s surgeon general nomination, replacing her with Dr. Casey Means. In an online item, Trump insisted that Means has an “absolutely outstanding” record and has the “potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States History.”

Less than 24 hours later, the president also said that he doesn’t know who Casey Means is.
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:aunpu65mdrhwfie7ynymlzeh/post/3looccm6y6k2a

Link to tweet

When a reporter noted that his surgeon general nominee never finished her medical residency and is not a practicing physician and asked Trump why he picked her for the job, the president pointed the finger at Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Because Bobby thought she was fantastic,” Trump said.

After touting Means as “brilliant,” he added, “I don’t know her.”.....

But in case that isn’t quite enough, one day after the president announced his surgeon general nominee, the backlash wasn’t limited to the left. Politico reported, “President Donald Trump’s new pick for surgeon general — wellness influencer Casey Means — is already the target of MAGA vitriol, underscoring a split inside the president’s base over the future of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement.”

Right-wing activist, radical conspiracy theorist and Trump confidant Laura Loomer was especially aggressive in going after Means, calling her a “total crack pot” who “DOESN’T EVEN HAVE AN ACTIVE MEDICAL LICENSE.”....

If the surgeon general’s nomination advances and she’s hoping for a rescue from Democrats, that also seems unlikely. While members of the Senate minority had little to say about Means, her record is almost certainly going to be a problem with them.

There may yet come a point when the Trump White House starts to vet nominees for important positions, but this week offered a timely reminder that this day has not yet arrived.