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Nigerian-Born Surgeon Joseph Ladapo Poised To Become Trump’s Health Minister

Published

1 month ago

Nov 8, 2024.

Following Donald Trump’s decisive victory in the U.S. presidential election, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is advocating for his state’s controversial surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, to potentially join Trump’s administration.

DeSantis hinted at the prospect on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, suggesting Dr. Ladapo as a candidate to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

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“Retweet if you’d like to see this man — Dr. Joseph Ladapo — serve as the secretary of HHS in the new Trump administration,” DeSantis posted.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that each Dr. Ladapo, appointed as Florida’s surgeon general in September 2021, has gained national attention for his strong stance against pandemic restrictions, including lockdowns, mask mandates, and COVID-19 vaccines. A Nigerian-born graduate of Harvard Medical School, Ladapo’s appointment was confirmed by the Florida Senate in February 2022. Before leading Florida’s health department, he served as an associate professor at UCLA’s School of Medicine.

Known for his unorthodox views, Ladapo has often clashed with public health authorities.

He has been criticized for his opposition to vaccine mandates, particularly when he allowed parents to decide on vaccinating their children during a measles outbreak, defying federal guidelines.

He also attracted controversy by threatening TV stations with potential criminal charges for broadcasting ads supporting Amendment 4, an abortion rights initiative in Florida.

Joseph Ladapo Health Minister

DeSantis’s post comes amid reports that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine advocate expected to influence Trump’s health appointments, is considering Ladapo for a role in Trump’s health team. Additionally, Ladapo is reportedly being considered for the position of U.S. Surgeon General, which would place him as the nation’s leading spokesperson on public health issues.

If appointed to HHS, Ladapo would oversee critical agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).