Trump Urges Pregnant Women Not To Take Tylenol Over Unproven Link To Autism And ADHD
President Trump has reignited controversy in the medical world after urging pregnant women to avoid Tylenol over a possible link between the painkiller and autism. Speaking from the White House on Monday, Trump declared, “Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it… Fight like hell not to take it,” despite admitting he is not a medical professional. His comments were made as the FDA announced plans seek to add a cautionary label to Tylenol regarding potential neurological risks.
The FDA, while announcing new safety label considerations, maintained a more cautious tone. It stated that although some studies suggest a correlation between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism or ADHD, “a causal relationship has not been established,” and other studies have found no link between the two. A major Swedish study of 2.4 million children found no evidence of harm, while a 2025 review highlighted only a potential association, not proof.
Trump’s comments also revived discredited theories linking childhood vaccines to autism. While he insisted vaccines should be administered separately and later in life when speaking at the White House on Monday, medical experts are united in rejecting the idea. "Without showing any evidence to back them up, the announcements become reckless and potentially harmful," said autism researcher Dr. Diana Schendel, echoing widespread concerns that the administration is undermining decades of scientific consensus.
Other health officials and medical groups have also criticized the claims. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called the suggestion “irresponsible,” and the American Academy of Pediatrics reiterated that paracetamol remains one of the safest options for pain relief during pregnancy. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting put it bluntly: “I trust doctors over President Trump, frankly, on this.”
Kenvue, the manufacturer of Tylenol, said in a statement: “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers and parents.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump also promoted leucovorin—a cancer drug—as a possible autism treatment, saying the FDA would soon approve it for this use. However, experts cautioned that current research is too limited to support such claims. “There’s not good evidence that it works,” said Dr. Audrey Brumback, an autism researcher at the University of Texas.
