WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited controversy by urging pregnant women to avoid Tylenol, claiming an unproven link between the painkiller and autism. Speaking at a White House event Monday, Trump told expectant mothers to “tough it out” rather than use acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and again questioned the safety of childhood vaccines.
The remarks drew swift condemnation from doctors and health groups, who warned the advice could scare pregnant women, undermine trust in vaccines, and drive families toward unsafe decisions.
“Taking Tylenol is not good,” Trump declared, insisting only an “extremely high fever” justified its use.
Medical Pushback
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) countered sharply, calling acetaminophen one of the safest medications during pregnancy. “Not treating the fever probably has more adverse effects than taking the medication,” said ACOG president Dr. Steven Fleischman.
Tylenol maker Kenvue also defended the drug, warning that Trump’s claims could endanger maternal health.
Acetaminophen, widely sold as Tylenol in the U.S. and paracetamol in the UK, is a common treatment for headaches, muscle pain, arthritis, and fever.
The Science: Mixed Evidence
Research into prenatal acetaminophen use and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains inconclusive.
- A Mount Sinai-led review of 46 studies (100,000+ participants) found that higher-quality studies were more likely to show an association, suggesting potential risks through placental transfer and interference with foetal brain development.
- A large Swedish study of 2.48 million children, however, found no evidence of increased risk once family background factors were controlled.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that no causal link has been established and urged doctors to weigh benefits against risks individually.
Vaccines Enter the Frame
Trump’s remarks extended beyond painkillers, echoing long-standing anti-vaccine talking points. He questioned the timing of the hepatitis B shot for newborns and likened routine immunisation schedules to “pumping into a horse.”
Medical experts pushed back forcefully. “There is no credible link between life-saving childhood vaccines and autism,” said Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Autism Research: What We Know
Scientists emphasise that autism is primarily genetic, with hundreds of genes implicated. Environmental influences — parental age, premature birth, or maternal infection — may contribute, but no single factor explains the condition. Rising diagnosis rates in recent decades reflect better awareness and broader definitions rather than new causes.
“Different combinations of genes and other factors can all affect how a foetal brain develops,” said Boston University researcher Helen Tager-Flusberg.
Political Echoes
The episode recalled Trump’s pandemic-era briefings, when he floated unproven treatments such as injecting disinfectant. Despite acknowledging he was speaking “just from me,” Trump insisted he had consulted “many doctors.”
“This kind of misinformation will cause real harm,” warned Dr. Paul Offit of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
