Former Running Mate Of RFK Jr. Claims Someone’s “Controlling” Him

Nicole Shanahan, who was Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate during the 2024 election, claims someone is “controlling” Kennedy.

In a post on X, Shanahan wrote, “I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation, that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be).”

Shanahan added, “I don’t know if RFK very clearly lied to me, or what is going on.”

Shanahan’s comments come after Kennedy supported President Trump’s decision to nominate Casey Means as his new surgeon general nominee.

“It has been clear in recent conversations that he is reporting to someone regularly who is controlling his decisions (and it isn’t President Trump),” continued Shanahan.

Take a look:

Yes, it's very strange. Doesn't make any sense. I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be). I don't know if RFK very clearly… https://t.co/KDb5O5MvAM

— Nicole Shanahan (@NicoleShanahan) May 8, 2025

Yes, it’s very strange. Doesn’t make any sense. I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be). I don’t know if RFK very clearly lied to me, or what is going on. It has been clear in recent conversations that he is reporting to someone regularly who is controlling his decisions (and it isn’t President Trump). With regards to the siblings, there is something very artificial and aggressive about them, almost like they were bred and raised Manchurian assets.

RFK Jr.’s Ex-Running Mate Warns Someone Is “Controlling” Him https://t.co/7rO1T7M9Xd

— The New Republic (@newrepublic) May 8, 2025

Here’s what The Hill reported:

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 2024 running mate, Nicole Shanahan, said late Wednesday that someone is “controlling” his decisions after President Trump named physician-turned-wellness influencer Casey Means as his new surgeon general nominee.

In a post on the social platform X, Shanahan called the announcement “strange,” adding that she was “promised” neither Casey Means nor Calley Means would serve at HHS or be appointed to any post if Shanahan supported Kennedy’s confirmation for the Cabinet post.

Calley Means is a special government employee at the HHS, and the siblings are high-profile proponents of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.

“Yes, it’s very strange. Doesn’t make any sense,” Shanahan wrote on X, responding to a post that expressed concern that Casey Means, a graduate of Stanford Medical School, has “just about no clinical experience.”

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“I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in his Senate confirmation that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS or in an appointment (and that people much more qualified would be),” Shanahan said. “I don’t know if RFK very clearly lied to me, or what is going on.”

“It has been clear in recent conversations that he is reporting to someone regularly who is controlling his decisions (and it isn’t President Trump),” she added.
Kennedy in a Thursday morning post on X called Casey Means a “breath of fresh air” and thanked Trump for her nomination.

Nope. Shanahan has less than zero influence over this appointment, this promise was definitely never offered to her, and the idea that Sec Kennedy is reporting to somebody other than President Trump is deeply disordered, borderline hysterical thinking. Also: hilarious. 🥱 https://t.co/gesqMx0lzc

— Michael R. Caputo (@MichaelRCaputo) May 8, 2025