President Donald Trump abruptly ended a press conference at the White House following a medical emergency that occurred during a swearing-in ceremony.
The event was held to officially appoint television personality and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz as the new Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under Trump’s administration.
According to The Irish Star, the briefing was suddenly interrupted when a young girl collapsed during the ceremony. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt immediately addressed the situation, instructing reporters to vacate the room. “Press out,” she could be heard saying as the situation unfolded.
Recognizing the urgency, President Trump halted his speech and stepped away from the podium to check on the individual. “I hope she’s OK,” he was heard saying. Dr. Oz also rushed off-camera to assist.
Footage from the event showed the young girl being escorted out of the room. Later, the White House confirmed that the individual who fainted was a minor family member and assured the public that she had recovered.
“A minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz’s swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office. We are happy to say she is OK,”
the official statement read.
WATCH:
Moments ago, something happened in the Oval Office that resulted in everyone being kicked out of the room abruptly, while President Trump was speaking.
“Press out! Everybody get out, right now!”
It appears there may have been a medical emergency of some sort. Dr. Oz… pic.twitter.com/lBFDBmX3B9
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) April 18, 2025
During the speech prior to the incident, President Trump praised Dr. Oz as “one of the nation’s most talented and beloved medical professionals.” He highlighted Dr. Oz’s academic achievements, noting that he earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard and both a medical degree and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton School, respectively.
Dr. Oz’s career includes serving as a heart surgeon and professor of cardiac surgery at Columbia University, as well as Director of the Cardiovascular Institute and the integrative medicine program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
He gained widespread recognition as the host of The Dr. Oz Show, which aired from 2009 to 2022. However, his show often drew criticism for promoting controversial and unverified medical advice. Notably, his endorsement of green coffee extract as a “magic weight-loss cure” was condemned by the Federal Trade Commission.
Despite past controversies, Dr. Oz’s appointment to lead CMS was confirmed earlier this month in a 53–45 Senate vote.
