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By Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump was speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Mehmet Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services but suddenly stopped taking questions.
Trump was responding to questions about Iran's nuclear program when the press briefing abruptly ended after a young girl fainted, according to reporting by the Associated Press and confirmed to Newsweek by the White House.
The girl was a guest of Oz, who quickly rushed to her side. Though she was able to stand, she was assisted out of the room.
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"We are happy to say she is okay," a White House spokesperson responded to Newsweek via email.
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Dr. Oz Set to Lead Health Coverage Agency
At 64, Dr. Oz—a former heart surgeon and TV talk-show host—now leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, overseeing health coverage for nearly half the U.S. population. His responsibilities span Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance programs under the Affordable Care Act.
Oz takes on the role as Congress actively debates potential cuts to Medicaid, which provides essential support to millions of low-income and disabled Americans.
President Trump looked on as Oz was sworn in Friday by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a ceremony in the Oval Office. Trump reaffirmed his pledge of "no cuts" to Medicare and Medicaid and thanked Oz for what he called a "big commitment" to public service.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Oz said, "I cherish Medicaid," but he repeatedly declined to state whether he would oppose funding cuts. He also avoided direct answers when asked if he would resist Trump administration proposals that would reduce Medicaid eligibility or introduce work requirements.
"We don't have to order people to eat healthy. We have to make it easier for people to be healthy," Oz said at the hearing, describing good health as a "patriotic duty."
Oz added that the way to protect Medicaid is "by making sure that it's viable at every level." He also told legislators he supports Medicaid work requirements and that America needs to "make the system better."
"When you expand the number of people on Medicaid without improving the resources required for those doctors to take care of those patients, you stretch resources very thinly for the people for whom Medicaid was originally designed," Oz said. "They cannot be compromised, so we have to make some important decisions to improve the quality of care."
Trump Administration Gives Update on Medicare Coverage
Earlier this month, in its first announcement since Oz's Senate confirmation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said that medications like Zepbound and Wegovy will not be covered under Medicare's Part D prescription drug plan. Medicare primarily provides health coverage for Americans aged 65 and older.
In the final weeks of his presidency, Joe Biden had proposed a rule that would have expanded Medicare coverage to include the high-demand and expensive obesity treatment. However, the rule was still pending final approval when President Trump took office.
Kennedy has been a vocal critic of the injectable weight-loss drugs, despite their surging popularity driven by the dramatic results many patients have reported.
Update: 4/18/25, 1:31 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 4/18/25, 2:31 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
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