This intense exchange with Trump's surgeon general pick is going viral. Why? - USA Today
Dr. Nicole Saphier, President Trump's nominee for surgeon general, faced intense questioning from Sen. Bill Cassidy regarding her stance on vaccine safety. While Saphier affirmed her support for vaccines, she was criticized for not providing a more direct, unequivocal answer to questions about the link between vaccines and autism.
Why it matters
The confirmation process for high-level health officials is a critical indicator of how the administration will handle public health messaging and scientific consensus.
Hear this story Another U.S. surgeon general nominee is making waves with her vaccine comments .
Dr. Nicole Saphier , President Donald Trump 's latest pick for the nation's top doctor role, had some intense moments during her confirmation hearing on Sept. 16 when faced with questions about the MMR vaccine , which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
Things got particularly intense when committee chair Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, asked her a line of questions about whether the vaccine causes autism.
"Humbly, I don't know what causes autism, but I have not seen repeatable evidence that would suggest that vaccines cause autism," said Saphier, a breast radiologist who has served as a Fox News contributor since 2018.
"Can you tell (a) parent − I assume you've reviewed the literature − that there is no credible evidence that vaccines cause autism?" Cassidy pressed.
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