A press session with U.S. President Donald Trump was abruptly halted on Friday after an 11-year-old girl fainted in the Oval Office during the swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Mehmet Oz as the new Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), according to the New York Post.
The young girl, identified as Philomena, Dr. Oz’s granddaughter, collapsed shortly after the ceremony concluded and Trump began answering questions from reporters. White House aides quickly moved to escort media personnel out of the room. “Everybody out, please move,” one aide was heard saying on the pooled video feed, adding, “No photos!”
President Trump was seen approaching the child to check on her well-being as journalists and photographers were removed from the room. A White House official later confirmed, “A minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz’s swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office. We are happy to say she is OK.”
Dr. Oz, 64, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and former TV host, was officially sworn in by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The White House shared the moment in a post on X, writing:
“Dr Oz has officially been sworn in as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by Robert F Kennedy, Jr in the Oval Office!”
Introducing Oz, Trump stated, “As Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator, Dr. Oz will work tirelessly to strengthen and protect Medicare for our nation’s seniors & Medicaid… there will be NO CUTS.”
Now serving as the 17th Administrator of CMS, Oz will oversee a $1.7 trillion budget and manage health services for more than 160 million Americans. Sharing his vision, Oz said, “Great societies protect their most vulnerable. America is too great for small dreams, and I’m ready to get to work on the President’s agenda to Make America Healthy Again.”
