Full Breakdown
Donald Trump Nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier Faces Scrutiny Over Supplement Sales and Tobacco Holdings
By Drooid · · How we work
Nomination and Financial Disclosures
President Donald Trump’s third nominee for U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Nicole Saphier—a breast-cancer radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and former Fox News contributor—will appear before the Senate for a confirmation hearing this week. In a financial-disclosure filing submitted last week, Saphier reported $270,605 in business income from her company Empower MD, LLC, which owns the dietary-supplement line Drop RX. The filing placed Empower MD’s valuation between $100,001 and $250,000, and Saphier said she would sell the company before assuming the surgeon-general role.
Supplement Business Operations
Empower MD markets several 2-ounce liquid formulations under the Drop RX brand, sold on Amazon in glass bottles with droppers. The Guardian previously documented at least nine formulations released since 2024, promoted on Saphier’s Instagram account. One product, “Soothe,” a turmeric-and-ginger blend, was listed for $24.99 at the time of reporting. A separate Drop RX item contains kava kava root, a substance the U.S. military classifies as a prohibited dietary supplement. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that kava can cause liver damage, citing a 2020 review of the scientific literature.
Tobacco Investments and Planned Divestiture
Saphier disclosed that she and her husband hold shares in Philip Morris International, while her husband also owns stock in British American Tobacco Industries. In an ethics agreement, she pledged to divest these tobacco interests within 90 days of confirmation. U.S. surgeons general have warned repeatedly since the 1960s that tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable death.
Official Statements & Responses
White House spokesman Kush Desai described Saphier as “an accomplished physician” and a “powerful asset for President Trump,” emphasizing her outspoken stance on breast-cancer prevention and criticism of COVID-19 mandates. The White House declined to comment further on the supplement business. Empower MD did not respond to requests for comment.
Criticism & Opposition
Public-health advocate Dr. Peter Lurie of the Center for Science in the Public Interest criticized the nominee’s financial ties, stating:
> “No public health person worth their salt would put a penny in a tobacco company.” — Dr. Peter Lurie, Center for Science in the Public Interest
Lurie added that the combination of supplement sales and tobacco holdings raises “unimaginable” conflicts for a surgeon-general tasked with protecting public health.
What’s Next – Saphier’s confirmation hearing will determine whether the administration proceeds with her appointment despite the disclosed financial interests.
