Trump links autism to Tylenol, urges pregnant women not to take it
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Trump and Kennedy at a White House ceremony in July. Photo: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images
President Trump on Monday warned pregnant women to limit the use of Tylenol, reviving a contentious debate over whether its active ingredient —acetaminophen — is linked to autism.
Why it matters: Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made broad assertions about the cause of a condition that affects about 1 in 31 children up to age 8.
- They also touted a little-known drug called leucovorin as a way to decrease the symptoms of autism.
Appearing with his top health officials, Trump tried to make good on Kennedy's pledge to uncover the source of autism by September and promoted ongoing research into the condition by the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies.
- Trump said the FDA would issue a notice to physicians about the risk of acetaminophen during pregnancy and begin the process to make a safety label change.
- "With Tylenol, don't take it, don't take it," Trump said, adding that pregnant women should limit use unless it's medically necessary and consult with their doctors about using it "if you can't tough it out."
- He said federal health officials would instruct clinicians to exercise best judgment to prescribe the lowest dose of acetaminophen for the shortest duration.
- Trump also warned of the dangers of administering multiple childhood vaccines at once, saying that shots should be administered over four or five visits.
The Health and Human Services Department, in a statement, caveated the connection between acetaminophen and autism.
- "It is important to note that while an association between acetaminophen and neurological conditions has been described in many studies, a causal relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature," the department said.
Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, said in a statement that it believes scientific evidence clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. "We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise," the company said.
- Some studies have found that prenatal exposure to the pain medication increased the risk of both autism spectrum disorder and ADHD.
- But a large study of data from more than 2 million children in Sweden concluded in 2024 that there was no connection, instead pointing to possible genetic factors.
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists earlier concluded there's no clear evidence of a relationship between prudent use of acetaminophen and fetal developmental issues.
Go deeper: Tylenol maker Kenvue blasts Trump administration's autism claim
This story has been updated with additional reporting.
