By Martha McHardy

Copyright newsweek

President Donald Trump is facing backlash from medical experts after suggesting a link between the use of Tylenol during pregnancy and autism, a claim widely discredited by scientific research.

During a White House briefing on Monday, Trump suggested that acetaminophen—sold under the brand name Tylenol— may be linked to higher autism rates in the United States, a connection experts have studied but say remains unproven.

“Taking Tylenol is not good,” Trump said. “I’ll say it. It’s not good.”He went on to say that women should avoid acetaminophen “during the entire pregnancy,” claiming, without providing evidence, that it is “very dangerous to the woman’s health.”

Why It Matters

Trump’s statements perpetuate long-debunked myths about autism, while potentially discouraging pregnant women from using acetaminophen, which has been the most commonly recommended pain reliever during pregnancy for decades.

The claims could influence public health decisions and reinforce harmful misconceptions about autism spectrum disorder that researchers have worked to dispel.

Autism affects 1 in 31 U.S. children today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What To Know

Trump said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would begin notifying doctors that the use of acetaminophen “can be associated” with an increased risk of autism, but the president did not provide any medical evidence for the new recommendation. He also urged parents not to give the drug to newborns.

Trump also pointed to leucovorin, a drug typically prescribed to counteract the side effects of certain cancer therapies, as a possible treatment for autism. Small early trials have suggested improvements in speech among some children, though researchers caution that much larger studies are needed. Still, the administration said the FDA would take steps to formally recognize the drug’s potential role in autism care and direct states to track and study its use.

Trump’s remarks have provoked backlash from medical professionals. Colin Killick, executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, told The Washington Post that officials are “playing loose with facts” to suggest a link between Tylenol and autism without conducting responsible science.

Epidemiologist Dr. Eric Fing pointed to “the largest and best study in the world in 2.5 million kids,” which found no increased autism risk from maternal acetaminophen use. He noted that an initial 5 percent risk disappeared once sibling controls were factored in.

Dr. Nick Mark, an intensivist, warned that spreading a “bogus” association could push pregnant women toward NSAIDs, which are linked to serious fetal harms.

Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, criticized the announcement, warning it is “not backed by the full body of scientific evidence” and oversimplifies the complex causes of neurological disorders in children. He called it “highly unsettling” that federal health agencies would issue such guidance without reliable data.

Meanwhile, Mia Ives-Rublee, senior director at the Center for American Progress, condemned the announcement, saying Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his has a “long history of promoting false or unsubstantiated health claims.” She argued the new claims rely on “distorted ‘science’ and false claims” that have been repeatedly debunked by doctors, scientists and disability advocates.

During the White House address, Trump urged parents not to give Tylenol to newborns, acknowledging that he was going “further than medical advisers and scientists would support.” He admitted the research was not strong enough to support his claims, blaming government funding decisions in the past.

“This is based on what I feel,” he said.

Trump also said: “There’s a rumor — and I don’t know if it’s so or not — that Cuba, they don’t have Tylenol because they don’t have the money for Tylenol. And they have virtually no autism. OK?”

He called his remarks “a very strong recommendation,” conceding that it was “maybe stronger from me than from the group because they’re waiting for certain studies.”

The FDA took a more cautious approach, noting that no causal link has been established but, “in the spirit of patient safety and prudent medicine,” it advised clinicians to consider minimizing acetaminophen use during pregnancy for routine low-grade fevers.

Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, pushed back, saying: “The facts are that over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals and global health regulators, confirms there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism.”

Research on the issue remains mixed. A 2024 JAMA study tracking Swedish siblings found no evidence of a connection, while a comprehensive review published this August found a link but cau…