President Trump’s Tylenol (Paracetamol) -Autism Claims Draw Sharp Pushback from Medical Community

On September 22, 2025, President Donald Trump, flanked by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, publicly asserted that the use of Tylenol (acetaminophen or paracetamol) during pregnancy contributes to an increased risk of autism in children. He urged pregnant women and parents to restrict its use and called for changes to vaccine schedules

The claims prompted swift and forceful responses from a broad spectrum of health and medical organisations, which overwhelmingly rejected Trump’s assertions as unsubstantiated, misleading, or contrary to the scientific consensus.

Trump’s Claims and Rationale

At the press conference, Trump asserted that acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) taken during pregnancy is associated with a “very increased risk” of autism, and instructed women to “limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary.” He also extended his claims to infants, advising against giving Tylenol to babies as a precaution.

Beyond Tylenol, Trump revisited controversial ideas regarding vaccines, suggesting that the standard immunisation schedule should be broken up into more individual shots and implying a possible connection with autism. The administration also announced intentions to revise drug labelling guidance and to explore the approval of leucovorin (a folate-related compound) for use in treating autism symptoms.

To support the claims, his administration references epidemiological studies that show associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neuro-developmental outcomes (such as autism or ADHD). In some instances, the Trump team cited expert commentary, including that of Harvard public health figures, as backing for a causal interpretation.

However, fact-checkers have warned that the administration’s public statements overstate what the underlying studies show, conflating correlation and causation, and ignoring methodological caveats.

Scientific and Medical Rebuttals

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

ACOG sharply rejected Trump’s claim, calling suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism “highly concerning” and “irresponsible.” The organisation emphasises that acetaminophen remains one of the safer analgesics during pregnancy when used appropriately and that there is no credible evidence establishing a causal link to developmental issues.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

The AAP characterised the press conference as “filled with dangerous claims and misleading information.” The organisation underscored that acetaminophen is considered safe for children when dosed properly under medical supervision.

World Health Organisation (WHO)

The WHO responded with a statement rejecting the purported link between acetaminophen and autism, stating that “extensive research, including large-scale studies over the past decade, has found no consistent association.” The agency reaffirmed that pregnant women should follow the advice of their healthcare providers.

Kenvue (Tylenol Manufacturer)

Kenvue, the company behind Tylenol, strongly disagreed with the claim. In public statements, it said “independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism.” It warned that discouraging its use could drive pregnant women to riskier alternatives or leave conditions (like fever) untreated, with potentially harmful outcomes.

Fact-checking and Science Outlets

• FactCheck.org evaluated the administration’s claims and concluded that the evidence does not support them: the studies cited are limited, associations are weak, methodological issues abound, and no causal connection has been established.

• FactCheck also noted that in some cases Trump’s team misrepresents expert testimony, such as overstating what a Harvard dean had said about causation.

• A deeper look by FactCheck flagged numerous false and misleading statements from the press event about autism, Tylenol, and vaccines.

• An article in Nature summarised that Trump’s Tylenol-autism claim is “absolutely not grounded in the scientific findings.”
  

Additional Scientific Community Critique

Multiple scientific commentators point out that:

• Studies linking acetaminophen use to neuro-developmental disorders typically identify correlations, not proving causation.

• There are plausible confounding factors: women who take acetaminophen might have underlying inflammation, fever, infection, or other exposures that could themselves influence neurodevelopment.

• Some recent large-scale studies and meta-analyses have failed to replicate robust associations.

• In U.S. lawsuits linked to claims of acetaminophen causing autism or ADHD, a judge dismissed many claims, concluding that expert testimony was unreliable and methodologies were flawed or selective.

Implications, Uncertainties, and Risks

The dispute between Trump's administration and many major healthcare organisations highlights the tension between emerging epidemiological signals and definitive scientific proof. While researchers continue investigating potential environmental and pharmacologic contributors to neuro-developmental disorders, the consensus among major public health agencies is that there is no established causal link between acetaminophen use and autism.

Critics of Trump’s approach warn that public statements of this kind may:

1. Deter pregnant women from using one of the safer pain relief options, potentially leading to unmanaged fever or pain with attendant risks,

2. Fuel vaccine hesitancy by resurrecting discredited vaccine–autism associations,

3. Undermine public trust in medical guidance.
   

Given the stakes for maternal and foetal health, medical professionals emphasise that pregnant women should not alter treatment decisions based on headlines or political statements, but instead consult trusted clinicians who can evaluate risks and benefits on a case-by-case basis.