Nicole Saphier, MD — a radiologist, former Fox News contributor, and Trump's third surgeon general nominee — faced pointed questioning at her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday over her stance on childhood vaccines. Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) pressed her to clearly state whether vaccines cause autism, to which she replied: "I do not believe childhood vaccines cause autism." She also called the MMR vaccine "our greatest tool for combating measles" — a notable stance given that the Trump administration has repeatedly suggested a vaccine-autism link and has moved to space out MMR doses.

Saphier's hearing comes amid a turbulent backdrop: the U.S. is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in decades, and the administration has taken sweeping steps to reshape vaccine guidance — many of which have been halted by courts. Cassidy warned that weakening vaccine confidence would be "a terrible legacy for this administration." Saphier pledged to restore public trust if confirmed, though critics noted she often framed vaccine safety as personal belief rather than established scientific fact.

Key Takeaways:

• Saphier is Trump's third surgeon general pick after two previous nominees fell through
• She committed to following the law if given unlawful orders and pledged to divest from conflicting financial holdings
• She owns DropRx, which sells unregulated tinctures containing ingredients flagged by the FDA for potential liver injury — she says she'll resign from the company if confirmed

Why it matters: The surgeon general serves as the nation's top public health communicator. With vaccine hesitancy rising and measles cases surging, who fills this role — and what they say about immunization — carries significant real-world consequences for public health.