Trump Puts Dr. Oz in Charge of Medicare and Medicaid Services
Newly elected President Donald Trump has announced his pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: renowned physician and former talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz.
“America is facing a Healthcare Crisis, and there may be no Physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again, “ Trump declared on social media.
As the man in charge, Oz will collaborate closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the Health and Human Services Secretary, in taking “on the illness industrial complex and all the horrible chronic diseases left in its wake.”
The 78-year-old president added, “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.”
Trump went on to describe Oz’s responsibilities, saying, “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.”
Who Is Dr. Mehmet Oz?
More popularly known as Dr. Oz, the TV personality hosted the Dr. Oz Show from 2009 to 2022. He first became famous as a medical subject matter expert, frequently appearing as a guest on Oprah Winfrey’s self-named talk show. He also ran for Pennsylvania’s Senate two years ago but failed to secure an office.
Oz is a dual citizen of Turkey and the United States. His ties to the Turkish capital Ankara as a marketer and consultant for Turkish Airlines became an issue during the 2022 elections when he ran against entrepreneur Dave McCormick. With Trump’s endorsement, Oz narrowly edged out McCormick in a closely contested GOP primary race.
The cardiologist made a striking promise during his campaign: to renounce his Turkish citizenship if elected to the Senate. Had he succeeded, Oz would have made history as the first Muslim member of the legislative chamber.
But Oz’s political ties weren’t his only connection to power. Trump’s wife Melania is reportedly a fan of the Harvard University alum, while Trump himself has praised Oz’s unique ability to connect with audiences.
“He’s on that screen,” Trump once said during a speech. “He’s in the bedrooms of all those women.”
But will Oz’s on-screen success translate into administrative success? Leading the government health program is a high-visibility role, subject to intense scrutiny and pressure. Time will only tell if Oz can balance his celebrity persona with the demands of the country’s biggest healthcare initiatives.
