Trump appoints 'Dr. Oz' to key US health post

Former President Donald Trump (L) and Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz (R) attend a campaign rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, November 5th, 2022.

Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he was appointing Mehmet Öz, renowned Turkish-American cardiac ex-surgeon and TV celebrity known as "Dr. Oz," to lead the United States' massive public health insurance program as he nominated Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, to lead the Department of Education.

In a statement, Trump described Dr. Oz as a "world-class communicator" and "eminent physician" who will spearhead efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system.

"America is facing a healthcare crisis, and there may be no physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to make America healthy again," he said, referencing the slogan he coined for his proposed healthcare reforms.

"Our broken healthcare system harms everyday Americans and crushes our country's budget. 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," he added.

He also noted that Oz will work closely with his Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address systemic issues in what Trump referred to as the "illness industrial complex."

If confirmed, Dr. Oz would lead an agency responsible for administering healthcare coverage to more than 150 million Americans, overseeing one of the federal government's largest budgets.

The 64-year-old heart surgeon was championed on daytime television by Oprah Winfrey before he entered politics with an unsuccessful bid for a Senate seat in 2022.

Oz is the latest of Trump's eye-catching nominations to key...