President Trump on Tuesday named Pastor Darrell Scott, a longtime supporter and co-founder of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, as the new tobacco health adviser at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The announcement, made on Truth Social, highlighted Scott's advocacy for “America’s Underserved Communities,” but left unanswered questions about his qualifications for a role centered on public health policy.
“For far too long, tobacco-related disease has taken an enormous toll on American Families, including Communities that have too often been overlooked and underserved. Pastor Scott understands these Communities, and the challenges they face, and he knows how to bring people together to get RESULTS,” Trump wrote, adding that Scott’s work would “help ensure that we take a serious look at how we can better protect Americans from dangerous tobacco products, while supporting solutions to reduce harm and SAVE LIVES.”
Scott, who has described himself as a “senior advisor” to the president, shared the announcement on his X profile without additional comment. The Hill has reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for clarification on Scott’s specific duties and any relevant experience he brings to the position.
The appointment comes as the Trump administration has systematically dismantled long-standing tobacco control measures. The CDC’s 14-year Tips From Former Smokers ad campaign was terminated, and the agency’s Office on Smoking and Health has been reduced to what critics call a “zombie program” — existing on paper but stripped of operational capacity.
Simultaneously, the Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing authorization to several flavored tobacco pouches, deeming them less harmful than combustible cigarettes. This regulatory shift aligns with the administration’s harm-reduction approach, but public health advocates warn it could undermine decades of progress in reducing tobacco use, particularly among youth.
Scott’s ties to the president are deep. He has been a vocal supporter since 2016 and co-founded the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, which sought to broaden the president’s appeal among minority voters. His new role marks his first official position within the administration, though his influence has long been felt in Trump’s orbit.
The appointment also raises concerns about the influence of the tobacco industry. RAI Services Co., a subsidiary of Reynolds American — which owns brands like Newport, Camel, and Pall Mall — was the largest corporate donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign. Critics argue that placing a political loyalist with no public health background in this role signals a continued prioritization of industry interests over evidence-based policy.
As the administration pushes forward with its deregulatory agenda, the selection of Scott underscores a broader trend: the replacement of scientific expertise with political allegiance in key health positions. Whether Scott can effectively address the complex challenges of tobacco-related disease remains to be seen, but his appointment has already drawn sharp criticism from public health experts and lawmakers alike.
