On Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump announced the nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz—a television personality, cardiothoracic surgeon, and former Senate candidate—to serve as the next administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). “America is facing a healthcare crisis,” Trump said in a statement. “There may be no physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again.” Oz is recognized for his daytime television show and his advocacy of alternative health treatments.
Oz has been a steadfast ally of Trump, receiving the now-president-elect’s endorsement during Oz’s unsuccessful 2022 Senate campaign in Pennsylvania. In announcing the nomination, Trump praised Oz’s extensive medical expertise, citing his academic credentials, numerous patents, and contributions to medical research. Trump also emphasized Oz’s efforts as a public health advocate, highlighting his work through his television program and nonprofit initiatives supporting underserved communities.
“Our broken Healthcare System harms everyday Americans, and crushes our Country’s budget,” Trump wrote. “Dr. Oz will be a leader in incentivizing Disease Prevention, so we get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country. He will also cut waste and fraud within our Country’s most expensive Government Agency, which is a third of our Nation’s Healthcare spend, and a quarter of our entire National Budget.”
Oz is expected to collaborate closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom President-elect Donald Trump appointed to lead efforts against what he terms the “illness industrial complex.” This partnership underscores a populist push to reform the healthcare system by curbing the influence of pharmaceutical companies and promoting holistic health approaches. Trump has already named Kennedy Jr. as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, signaling a significant shift in the administration’s healthcare priorities. If confirmed, Oz will assume leadership of one of the federal government’s largest and most complex agencies. “Dr. Oz will fight to ensure everyone in America receives the best possible healthcare,” Trump wrote. “So our country can be Great and Healthy Again.”
