On November 27, 2024, American President-elect Trump announced on Tuesday, November 26, that he has nominated Jim O’Neill to be the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS). O’Neill is an investor and a close associate of Peter Thiel, a billionaire and supporter of Trump.
In a statement released on Trump’s social media platform “Truth Social,” Trump expressed his pleasure in nominating Jim O’Neill to be the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, working alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He mentioned that O’Neill will oversee all operations to improve management, transparency, and accountability to restore health to America.
Trump also stated in the announcement that O’Neill and Kennedy will work together to ensure that every American, especially our most precious resource—our children, can live healthy and long lives, to make America great and healthy again.
O’Neill, former CEO of the Thiel Foundation, had been considered by Trump to be the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after Trump’s first election as President in 2016. O’Neill has extensive connections in Silicon Valley and has previously served as the Assistant Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services during the George W. Bush administration.
Trump’s statement on Tuesday also mentioned that O’Neill led research efforts on regenerative medicine solutions for age-related diseases such as dementia, cancer, and heart disease.
In recent weeks, O’Neill has expressed his support for Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” slogan on the social media platform X, advocating for initiatives to promote health and wellness in the United States.