The Trump administration acknowledged on Monday that using Tylenol throughout being pregnant could also be linked to an elevated danger of autism and that pregnant girls ought to restrict their use, contradicting medical proof.
In a press convention on the White Home, President Donald Trump, flanked by the nation’s high public well being officers, stated the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) will start notifying physicians instantly that it’s “strongly recommending that girls restrict Tylenol use throughout being pregnant until medically essential.”
“They’re strongly recommending that girls restrict Tylenol use throughout being pregnant until medically essential,” Trump stated. “That is, as an example, in instances of extraordinarily excessive fever.”
Research on this query haven’t proven a direct trigger and impact. Some research level to a attainable hyperlink, however main medical teams have evaluated the proof and proceed to advocate acetaminophen because the most secure painkiller throughout being pregnant.
President Donald Trump alongside Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz speaks about autism on the White Home in Washington, Sept. 22, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP through Getty Photographs
Trump and his well being officers stated that the FDA would replace the label for acetaminophen, generally generally known as Tylenol, to “replicate potential advantages in decreasing some autism signs.”
However Trump went additional, straight addressing pregnant girls throughout the press convention, stating, “Do not take Tylenol. There isn’t any draw back. Do not take it.”
“You will be uncomfortable,” he added. “It will not be as simple, perhaps. However do not take it should you’re pregnant. Do not take Tylenol, and do not give it to the child after the child is born.”
At one level, Trump acknowledged that his remarks had been based mostly much less on scientific proof and extra on his personal life experiences and “widespread sense.”
“You understand, I am simply making these statements from me,” he stated. “I am not making them from these docs, as a result of once they speak about, you realize, totally different outcomes, totally different research, I speak about a variety of widespread sense. They usually have that too. They’ve that too, lots.”
Main medical teams reacted strongly, expressing concern that pregnant girls could also be discouraged to make use of acetaminophen even when they may profit.
In an announcement, Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American School of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), stated the medical group continues to advocate acetaminophen because the most secure painkiller throughout being pregnant.
“Strategies that acetaminophen use in being pregnant causes autism will not be solely extremely regarding to clinicians but additionally irresponsible when contemplating the dangerous and complicated message they ship to pregnant sufferers, together with those that might must depend on this useful drugs throughout being pregnant,” Fleischman stated.
“In the present day’s announcement by HHS is just not backed by the total physique of scientific proof and dangerously simplifies the various and complicated causes of neurologic challenges in kids. It’s extremely unsettling that our federal well being businesses are prepared to make an announcement that may have an effect on the well being and well-being of thousands and thousands of individuals with out the backing of dependable information,” the assertion continued.
On Monday night, the FDA launched its word to docs a couple of attainable hyperlink between acetaminophen throughout being pregnant and autism, which was extra measured than the president’s assertions.
The word included language that there was no proof that Tylenol causes autism, and the affiliation is an ongoing space of scientific debate.
“To be clear, whereas an affiliation between acetaminophen and autism has been described in lots of research, a causal relationship has not been established and there are opposite research within the scientific literature,” the word learn. “The affiliation is an ongoing space of scientific debate and clinicians ought to concentrate on the problem of their medical decision-making.”
In an announcement from Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, on Sunday, the corporate stated it believes analysis exhibits that acetaminophen doesn’t trigger autism.
“We strongly disagree with any suggestion in any other case and are deeply involved with the well being danger this poses for anticipating moms,” the assertion learn. “Acetaminophen is the most secure ache reliever choice for pregnant girls as wanted all through their complete being pregnant. With out it, girls face harmful selections: endure by means of situations like fever which might be doubtlessly dangerous to each mother and child or use riskier options.”
Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivers remarks on autism whereas President Donald Trump listens, on the White Home, in Washington, September 22, 2025.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs
Research have been blended on whether or not acetaminophen is linked to a better danger of ADHD or autism, however no printed research has discovered that acetaminophen use in being pregnant causes autism. There are additionally a number of research that present there isn’t any hyperlink between vaccines and autism.
An April 2024 study, funded by the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH) and printed in JAMA, discovered that utilizing acetaminophen throughout being pregnant was not linked to an elevated danger of autism, ADHD or mental incapacity in kids.
In the course of the press convention, federal officers cited an August 2025 meta-analysis from researchers at Mt. Sinai, Harvard T.H. Chan Faculty of Public Heath, UCLA Fielding Faculty of Public Well being and UMass Lowell that discovered prenatal publicity to acetaminophen might enhance the danger of neurodevelopmental problems, together with autism and ADHD, in kids.
Nevertheless, the authors of the meta-analysis stated their work doesn’t show Tylenol taken throughout being pregnant causes autism, and didn’t advocate that pregnant sufferers cease utilizing Tylenol.
“[A]s the one accepted treatment for ache and fever discount throughout being pregnant, acetaminophen stays an essential software for pregnant sufferers and their physicians,” co-author Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, dean of the college and professor of environmental well being at Harvard T.H. Chan Faculty of Public Well being, informed ABC Information in an announcement. “Excessive fever can pose dangers to each the mom and the fetus, together with neural tube defects and preterm beginning.”
President Donald Trump accompanied by Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Meals and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, speaks about autism on the White Home in Washington, Sept. 22, 2025.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs
Kennedy and others within the administration have been decided to seek out what’s behind what they’ve known as an “autism epidemic.”
An April report from the CDC discovered that an estimated one in 31 8-year-olds was recognized with autism spectrum dysfunction (ASD) in 2022. To check, one in 36 was recognized with ASD in 2020, in line with the report.
That is additionally an increase from the one in 150 kids recognized with autism in 2000, CDC information exhibits.
Medical consultants have informed ABC Information they consider this enhance is basically as a consequence of higher consciousness, higher entry to screening and providers, and broadening the definition of ASD.
Helen Tager-Flusberg, director of the Heart for Autism Analysis Excellence at Boston College and a member of the coalition of vaccine scientists, informed ABC Information that researchers have been learning autism’s many causes for many years and that one of the best work combines genetic, medical and environmental information.
She warned that revealing findings with out strategies or peer overview dangers alarming the general public and undermining ongoing NIH analysis efforts.
“Not one of the gold customary parameters embrace saying the findings of a research at a press convention, none embrace conducting this research with out disclosing strategies or analysis questions, however as an alternative turning this into an enormous shock,” she stated.
The administration additionally introduced on Monday that it’s beginning an approval course of for a drug known as leucovorin, regardless of restricted proof of profit.
Leucovorin, which is often used as a part of most cancers care, has proven early promise in a handful of small research suggesting it could assist the signs of some kids with autism.
Sometimes, extra strong research could be required for a brand new FDA approval. Docs say there might be some promise for this drug, however warning that extra analysis is required to grasp how a lot — and even whether or not — this drug helps sure kids.
Within the press launch, GSK, the maker of the drug, didn’t point out autism by identify however stated it’s beginning a course of to increase the approval.
In the course of the press convention on Monday, Trump and Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. additionally recommended the childhood vaccine schedule may contribute to autism, contradicting years of analysis that has discovered no hyperlink between the 2.
