Pregnant women have been posting videos on social media platforms of themselves taking Tylenol after President Donald Trump said on Monday that there was a link between use of the pain and fever reliever during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder.
A number of the women posting the videos said that they would not take medical advice from the president as he did not have a medical degree—something doctors themselves have also said.
Why It Matters
During Monday’s White House announcement, Trump suggested that acetaminophen, which is sold under the brand name Tylenol, may be linked to higher autism rates in the U.S., although experts say the link remains unproven. As a result, some medical professionals have argued that the president’s messaging was not only “harmful,” but also not backed by “the full body of scientific evidence.”
Dr. Lucy McBride said on The Daily Mic Drop, a progressive platform covering American politics, “Donald Trump is the last person I would trust when it comes to medical advice,” adding that Tylenol is one of the few things pregnant women can take to reduce high fever—and that having a high fever in pregnancy is actually dangerous to both mother and baby.
The ripple effect of the statement has also reached other nations, with the U.K.’s Health Secretary Wes Streeting advising pregnant women in Britain not to “pay attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine.”
What To Know
A number of videos have been circulating on X, some of which appear to have originated from TikTok, including one where a woman films herself taking a Tylenol tablet with the caption: “here’s is [sic] me, a PREGNANT woman, taking TYLENOL because I believe in science and not someone who has no medical background.”
TikTok user @natalie.kehl shared a video of her taking Tylenol as well, which accumulated more than 112,000 views, saying while referring to Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr that she doesn’t “take her medical advice from a man who doesn’t have a degree in science, health care or medicine, and who had a parasitic brain infection and was addicted to heroine for 14 years—I’ll trust my doctors who have their degree.”
Another TikTok user @aileenbystronova shared a video in which she referred to Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, both of whom have revealed they are autistic. It has received over 1,200 views, and shows her appearing to mime downing tablets from a Tylenol bottle, with the caption: “Me taking Tylenol as soon as I find out I’m pregnant because this whole Autism thing seems to be working for Mark, Elon and all other Tech billionaires.”
A fertility medicine doctor, Dr. Michelle Vu, also posted a video on TikTok of herself taking Tylenol, saying “my baby won’t have autism,” prompting criticism from some users on X. One user wrote: “This is a doctor, mind you! Are you kidding me? Why is she allowed to practice?! Disgusting.”
Trump’s statement has caused a major divide online, with some, including doctors, concerned about the impacts the announcement will have, while others have criticized the pregnant women.
As Tylenol helps to reduce fever in pregnancy, some have warned that advising women not to take the relief could result in “fetal neurological maldevelopment,” as high fever during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of birth defects.
Although, as more and more videos appear to be circulating the internet, doctors have called for these women taking Tylenol just to “stick it to Trump” to stop.
Dr. Nicole Saphier, a Fox News contributor and radiologist, wrote in a post, which accumulated more than 1.5 million views, on X: “Don’t weaponize your pregnancy for a political point.”
The Biden administration’s COVID-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha also warned on News Nation that it was “not a good idea” for pregnant women to be taking the pain and fever relief unless it was necessary.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Nicole Saphier wrote in a post on X: “Pregnant women popping Tylenol like Tic Tacs just to stick it to Trump—please stop. Don’t weaponize your pregnancy for a political point. Consider acetaminophen only when absolutely necessary, for the shortest duration and lowest dose, even the makers of Tylenol say this.”
Hazel Appleyard, an X user with more than 142,000 followers on the platform, wrote in a post: “The pregnant women taking tylenol specifically because they were told not to by a man the [sic] don’t like is the exact type of behavior that makes men want to take away our right to vote lol.”
Jeffery Mead, an X user with more than 443,000 followers on the platform, wrote in a post: “So Trump tells people to not take Tylenol out of an abundance caution for them and their child’s health, and what do these women do? They go and take Tylenol just to ‘stick it to Trump.’ It doesn’t matter what it is. They want to oppose Trump for the sake of opposing Trump. Now ask yourself, why is that?”
Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), said in a statement on Monday: “Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients, including those who may need to rely on this beneficial medicine during pregnancy.
“Today’s announcement by HHS is not backed by the full body of scientific evidence and dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children. It is highly unsettling that our federal health agencies are willing to make an announcement that will affect the health and well-being of millions of people without the backing of reliable data.”