In a striking press event that has already drawn widespread criticism from the medical community, Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that the popular painkiller Tylenol (acetaminophen) may raise the risk of autism in children when taken during pregnancy. The remarks — delivered with both caution and controversy — have triggered heated responses from psychiatrists, federal health experts, and the drug’s manufacturer.

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Trump’s sweeping claims reignite vaccine myths

Standing before cameras, President Trump repeated debunked myths linking autism to vaccines — particularly the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) shot. He suggested children should receive vaccines separately and over longer intervals, a claim long dismissed by scientists since the Andrew Wakefield paper that fueled the controversy was retracted in 2010.

Trump even questioned the Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, arguing the virus is “sexually transmitted,” and unnecessary at birth. Doctors quickly pointed out that Hepatitis B can spread in multiple ways, including from mother to child, and carries lifelong health consequences if untreated.

His additional call to remove mercury and aluminum from vaccines contradicted repeated findings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies, which confirm the compounds used in vaccines are safe at recommended levels.

Linking Tylenol to autism

The most headline-grabbing statement came when Trump and Kennedy urged pregnant women to avoid Tylenol unless absolutely necessary. “If you can tough it out, tough it out,” Trump said. Kennedy echoed the warning, acknowledging that there are few safe alternatives to acetaminophen but stressing the “lowest dose for the shortest time” should be the standard.

This advice stems from more than two dozen studies that suggest a possible link between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and higher rates of autism or ADHD. However, other studies have rejected the correlation, and no medical body has declared a proven causal relationship.

To reinforce the concern, Dr. Martin Makary of the Food and Drug Administration announced a new pregnancy warning label for acetaminophen.

Medicaid and a controversial treatment

Adding to the swirl of news, Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, revealed Medicaid will now cover the use of leucovorin, a folinic acid typically prescribed for chemotherapy and anemia, as a potential treatment for autism.

While a small study in India suggested benefits, autism researchers remain unconvinced. Alycia Halladay of the Autism Science Foundation said leucovorin “is not considered a treatment for autism” and called for more years of research before recommending it broadly.

Pushback from psychiatrists and Tylenol’s maker

Pharmaceutical company Kenvue, which makes Tylenol, issued a firm statement:

Independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned about the risks of discouraging its use for pregnant women.

The American Psychiatric Association also weighed in:

Vaccines do not cause autism. Autism is a complex disorder with multiple genetic and environmental factors. Acetaminophen, when used as directed, is safe during pregnancy. Any treatment decisions should be made between a patient and their doctor.

Searching for the real causes of autism

Despite the controversies, one announcement drew broad support: new National Institutes of Health grants to study the root causes of autism. Kennedy criticized past efforts for focusing too heavily on genetics:

That would be like studying the genetic causes of lung cancer without looking at cigarettes,” he said.

The truth remains that autism’s causes are not singular. Genetics, prenatal environment, and other yet-unknown factors likely interact in complex ways. For now, scientists caution that fueling panic over Tylenol may do more harm than good, especially since alternatives like ibuprofen and aspirin are considered riskier during pregnancy.

Key takeaway

While Trump and Kennedy’s comments captured headlines, doctors stress there is no single scientifically confirmed cause of autism. The debate underscores how fragile the line can be between public health guidance and political messaging. For expecting mothers, the safest path forward remains consulting trusted physicians rather than political podiums.