Donald Trump announced on Tuesday his intention to appoint Memet Oz, a former surgeon and TV star, to run the huge public Social Security and Medicare (CMS) program.
"America is facing a public health crisis and there is no doctor more qualified than Dr. Oz to restore health to America," the Republican US President-elect said in a statement.
"It will also reduce waste and fraud in the highest-cost public service in our country," Donald Trump further promised.
The 64-year-old surgeon is best known for being a star of the small screen, his descent into politics was unsuccessful. Highly featured in the 2000s by American television pontiff Oprah Winfrey, who invited him to speak as an expert in the studio, he got his own show that aired for over ten years, entitled “Dr. Oz Show,” which made him a celebrity.
The son of Turkish immigrants even got his own star on the famous "Walk of Fame" in Hollywood.
The intention of Mr. Trump to assign him a key position, as with other television stars — the person to whom the Republican is preparing to assign the Department of Defense is a former Fox News host — is triggering strong reactions from the Democrats.
"We're becoming the world's first nuclear-armed reality TV show," quipped Democratic Rep. Jim Himes.
In addition, Donald Trump on Tuesday named the former head of the American wrestling federation (WWE), Linda McMahon, as the next Secretary of Education, responsible for managing an institution that the President-elect intends to shrink — if not abolish — so that the education system can reshaped toward the more conservative one, given the deep divide between progressives and conservatives in the US over the issue.
"As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly" to guarantee more "freedom" in education in the states to "give parents the means to make the best education decisions for their family," he said. Mr. Trump in his statement.
Ms. McMahon, who was also said to be among those who might take over the Commerce Department, had led the small business agency in Mr. Trump (2017-2021) and was among the main donors and early supporters of the real estate mogul since his first bid for the presidency, almost a decade ago. He took over as head of the "independent" fundraising group America First Action and is also president of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank close to Mr. Trump.
Earlier yesterday, the President-elect announced his intention to name Howard Latnick, his campaign co-chairman and Chairman and CEO of wealth management and investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, as his administration's Secretary of Commerce.
Source: KYPE
