President Donald Trump has stirred controversy again — this time over Tylenol. Speaking earlier this week, Trump warned that the pain reliever, commonly used by pregnant women, could be
linked to autism. He urged women to avoid it unless absolutely necessary, saying they should “fight like hell” not to take it.
Medical experts were quick to respond, calling his remarks misleading and potentially harmful.
Tylenol, known internationally as paracetamol, is one of the most widely recommended pain relievers for pregnant women. Health officials in the US, UK, and elsewhere have long considered it safe when taken as directed.
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting dismissed Trump’s claims outright, saying: “I trust doctors over President Trump, frankly, on this.”
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also rejected the idea of a direct connection between Tylenol and autism. Its president, Dr. Steven Fleischman, said Trump’s claim “dangerously simplifies” what scientists know about autism, which has complex genetic and environmental causes.
Even the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is reviewing Tylenol safety, used more cautious language than Trump. In a recent notice, the agency acknowledged some studies suggesting a possible link but emphasized that no causal relationship has ever been proven. The FDA stressed that untreated fever and pain during pregnancy can themselves pose serious risks.
Despite the lack of scientific consensus, Trump was joined by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who announced plans for a new warning label on Tylenol and a public health campaign. Kennedy also suggested that leucovorin, a drug typically used in cancer treatment, could help children with autism. Researchers, however, say studies on that are still in very early stages.
Reactions to Trump’s comments have been swift. The National Autistic Society in the UK called his statements “irresponsible,” arguing they spread harmful misinformation and further stigmatize autistic people.
Many expectant mothers also expressed alarm. Haley Drenon, a 29-year-old from Texas who is pregnant with her first child, said the remarks left her uneasy. “This announcement, if made without the proper context, would worry a lot of other people as well,” she said.
The scientific community remains divided, but most experts agree on one thing: there’s no solid proof that Tylenol causes autism. Some studies suggest a possible association, while others — including a large Swedish study of over 2 million children — found no link at all.
Autism diagnoses have risen sharply over the past two decades, but researchers point out that much of the increase is due to broader definitions and greater awareness, not necessarily new causes.
This isn’t the first time Trump and Kennedy have fueled controversy over health. Both have promoted debunked theories before — Kennedy about vaccines, and Trump with unproven Covid-19 treatments.
For now, doctors continue to say Tylenol is safe for pregnant women when taken as directed. As Durham University’s Professor Monique Botha summed it up: “There is no robust evidence or convincing studies to suggest there is any causal relationship.” Photo by Austin Kirk, Wikimedia commons.
