For decades, Tylenol has been a staple in American households, trusted as the go-to pain reliever for pregnant women when ibuprofen or aspirin posed risks. But on Monday, President Donald Trump upended that trust with a sweeping — and unproven — claim that the drug may be linked to autism.
“It’s no good,” Trump declared, urging pregnant women to “fight like hell” to avoid the medication unless faced with an extreme fever. His remarks, delivered from the Oval Office, came with the promise of new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings and a public health campaign.
The announcement ignited immediate backlash from medical professionals, who accused the president of spreading misinformation with potentially deadly consequences.
Doctors Push Back
Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, blasted the remarks as “dangerously simplistic” and “not backed by the full body of scientific evidence.”
“Acetaminophen has long been considered the safest option for pregnant women,” Fleischman said. “There is no clear evidence proving a direct relationship between prudent use of the drug and developmental issues in children.”
Health officials in the UK echoed that position, insisting paracetamol — the drug’s name abroad — remains the most reliable pain reliever for expectant mothers.
Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue was even more blunt: “We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.”
The “Science” Behind the Claim
Trump’s remarks leaned heavily on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime skeptic of mainstream medicine. Kennedy said the FDA would not only move to add safety labels to Tylenol but also approve leucovorin, a decades-old chemotherapy drug, as an experimental treatment for autistic children.
Kennedy claimed leucovorin could help children deficient in folate, a form of vitamin B, improve verbal skills. While some small studies suggest potential benefits, researchers stress that evidence remains preliminary.
The Autism Science Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing research, was careful not to dismiss the idea outright but warned against overstatement. “Some trials show promise, but more work is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn,” the group said.
What the Research Really Says
Scientific studies on Tylenol and autism have yielded mixed results. A recent Harvard-led review suggested there might be a correlation between prenatal acetaminophen use and higher rates of neurodevelopmental disorders. Researchers urged caution — but stopped short of declaring causation.
On the other hand, a sweeping Swedish study published in 2024 looked at more than 2.4 million births between 1995 and 2019. The conclusion was unequivocal: no increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability could be definitively tied to the drug.
“There is no robust evidence or convincing studies to suggest there is any causal relationship,” said Dr. Monique Botha, professor of developmental psychology at Durham University.
Botha stressed that pain relief for pregnant women is already “woefully lacking,” and removing Tylenol from the toolkit would leave millions with unsafe alternatives.
Autism: A Complex Puzzle
Trump’s assertion comes as autism diagnoses continue to rise. By 2020, nearly 3% of American 8-year-olds were identified with autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But researchers point to a broader definition of autism spectrum disorders, better diagnostic tools, and greater public awareness — not a single environmental cause.
“There is no one smoking gun,” said Fleischman. “Autism is a complex condition shaped by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. To blame one over-the-counter drug is to ignore decades of research.”
Political Undertones
The episode also highlights the growing politicization of health issues under Trump’s second term. Kennedy has long promoted debunked theories linking vaccines to autism. Now, critics fear the administration is cherry-picking science to fit an agenda — even if it undermines public confidence in medicine.
Trump described the surge in autism diagnoses as a “horrible crisis” and vowed to solve it within months. Experts warn such promises are not only unrealistic but also risk stigmatizing autistic individuals and their families.
“This rhetoric suggests that autism is something to be feared or eradicated,” said the Autism Science Foundation. “What families need is support, services, and research — not political theatrics.”
Risk of Real-World Consequences
For doctors on the front lines, the danger is immediate. Expectant mothers alarmed by Trump’s comments may stop taking Tylenol even when facing high fevers, which themselves can be dangerous for fetal development.
“It’s reckless,” said Dr. Fleischman. “We could see women suffering needlessly, or worse, turning to unsafe alternatives.”
Still, the FDA has confirmed it will move forward with label changes and a public health campaign, marking a dramatic shift in policy. Whether doctors and scientists can stem the tide of misinformation remains to be seen.
For now, one of the safest drugs in pregnancy has been thrown into doubt by the most powerful voice in America. And once again, science finds itself scrambling to catch up with politics.
