In a statement that has already ignited controversy across the medical community, Donald Trump urged pregnant women to “fight like hell” before using acetaminophen—commonly sold as Tylenol—for pain or fever.

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At a September 22 news conference, Trump said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would notify doctors about an alleged link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism.

“You’ve got to fight like hell not to take it,” Trump told reporters, framing the over-the-counter drug as a potential threat to unborn children.

Doctors sound the alarm

Medical experts were quick to push back, warning that untreated fevers during pregnancy carry far more proven risks than responsibly using Tylenol.

Laurel Gabard-Durnam, assistant professor and associate director of the Institute for Cognitive and Brain Health at Northeastern University, told USA TODAY that Trump’s advice is dangerous.

“You need to treat fevers in pregnancy,” she said. “You can’t let them go untreated, let them get elevated and have them for a prolonged time because the health risks are very well-known, very established and very significant.”

Indeed, a “long and rich” scientific record shows that high fevers—especially in the first trimester—can increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and developmental complications.

Conflicting studies muddy the waters

While some studies have suggested links between frequent acetaminophen use in pregnancy and developmental disorders such as autism and ADHD, other research has cast doubt on those findings.

For instance, a 2019 study published in Scientific Reports found that children exposed to multiple fevers in the first trimester had more than double the risk of receiving an ADHD diagnosis—highlighting that the untreated fever itself, rather than the acetaminophen, may pose the greater danger.

Politics versus public health

Critics argue that Trump’s rhetoric risks sparking panic among expectant mothers while ignoring decades of medical guidance. Acetaminophen has long been considered the safest option for pregnant women when it comes to managing headaches, pain, and fevers.

Public health authorities stress that the drug should be used in moderation and only when needed, but warn against demonizing it outright. As Gabard-Durnam and other experts emphasize, the bigger risk comes from leaving fevers and severe pain untreated.

The takeaway for mothers-to-be

Doctors recommend that pregnant women always consult their physicians before taking any medication—but they also urge women not to suffer needlessly out of fear fueled by politics.

For now, the evidence remains mixed, and large-scale research continues. But one point is clear: uncontrolled fever during pregnancy is a proven threat, while acetaminophen remains a widely trusted, carefully studied option for relief.

Trump’s words may have made headlines, but medical experts insist science, not politics, should guide the health decisions of expecting mothers.