President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to publicly announce that Dr. Ben Carson will serve as National Nutrition Advisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and that he will soon receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom — framing the move as part of his broader “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
The Truth Social post marks Trump’s first public statement about Carson’s appointment, which was formally confirmed in September when the former neurosurgeon was sworn in as National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing. The role reports directly to both the president and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, aligning USDA’s nutrition, housing, and rural health programs under one office.
Trump’s public message goes beyond a personnel update — it links Carson’s appointment to his “Make America Healthy Again (MAHA)” agenda, a signature policy effort aimed at improving Americans’ diets, lifestyle habits, and access to wellness programs.
The USDA described Carson as the department’s “chief voice on health and nutrition policy,” responsible for coordinating cross-agency strategies that connect housing, health, and food systems in underserved communities.
The announcement also included Trump’s plan to award Carson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The White House has not yet released a date for the ceremony, but the move underscores Carson’s status as a trusted Trump ally and influential figure within conservative public-health policy circles.
Carson, a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon and bestselling author, previously served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2017 to 2021, where he oversaw housing reform and opportunity-zone initiatives. His new USDA role expands his long-standing focus on faith-based leadership and preventive health across federal programs.
