New government team: Trump wants to give TV doctor Oz important health position

With TV doctor Mehmet Oz, another television personality is set to join Donald Trump’s new government team. The US President-elect announced that Oz should become head of the Medicare and Medicaid health systems. They provide medical services to more than 100 million Americans. Medicare is for people over the age of 65. Medicaid covers at least some of the costs of treatments and medications for people with low incomes.

Oz had advocated for more private services in the system in the past. He made a name for himself as a heart surgeon and professor at Columbia University. As host of the “Dr. Oz Show,” he was criticized, among other things, for spreading controversial views on alternative medicine and paranormal abilities. During the corona pandemic, he recommended untested treatment methods on television, such as the use of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine – and this got through to then-President Trump.

In 2022, Oz should win a Senate seat in the state of Pennsylvania for the Republicans. He was also supported by Trump in the election campaign, but clearly lost.

With Pete Hegseth as a candidate for Defense Secretary and Sean Duffy, who is to be Secretary of Transportation, Trump has already nominated two anchors for his administration from the conservative Fox news channels that are popular with him. Trump, 78, is scheduled to be sworn in for his second term as president on January 20.