On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump urged pregnant women and mothers to avoid Tylenol, saying the pain reliever might contribute to autism. At a White House news conference, he reiterated this warning several times and stated that the Food and Drug Administration could soon alert doctors to a possible link. However, he did not provide any new evidence, according to the Associated Press.
Studies on acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, have shown mixed results. Some research has questioned its use during pregnancy, but other studies have found no link. Experts point out that autism develops in the fetal brain, not later in childhood. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine still recommends Tylenol as safe for treating fever and pain during pregnancy, and warns that leaving fevers untreated can be dangerous.
Medical experts quickly called Trump’s comments misleading. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists described the claims as irresponsible. In 2021, the organization identified acetaminophen, the core substance of Tylenol, as “one of the only safe pain relievers for pregnant individuals.” The Tylenol’s manufacturer, Kenvue, also denied any link to autism and said that avoiding Tylenol could lead mothers to use less safe options.
Trump also repeated claims that vaccines cause autism, even though decades of research have found no such link. Today, about 1 in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism, a number that has grown primarily because of broader definitions and better awareness.
