In a surprising turn of events, the press was swiftly removed from the White House during the swearing-in ceremony of Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The disruption came as President Trump was giving his remarks, seemingly due to a medical emergency.
The ceremony was proceeding smoothly, with President Trump addressing the audience alongside Dr. Oz and other dignitaries. However, midway through, a sudden commotion occurred leading to the press being hurriedly escorted out. Video footage from the event suggests a young girl might have experienced a medical emergency.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s voice can be heard urgently instructing, “Press out! Everybody get out, right now!”
Dr. Oz, renowned as a celebrity surgeon and television star, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 3, 2025, with a narrow 53-45 party-line vote. His role at CMS is crucial, as the agency provides oversight for health insurance programs that benefit over 150 million Americans, including through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
As of now, details about the incident during the swearing-in remain limited. There has been no official statement from the White House, nor have reporters present at the scene released further information. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.
