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Trump’s Claim: What Was Said
On 22 September 2025, Donald Trump held a White House press conference in which he asserted that there is a link between pregnant women taking Tylenol (known as paracetamol or acetaminophen in many countries) and an increased risk of autism in their children.
Some of the key points he made:
• He advised pregnant women to avoid taking Tylenol, unless medically necessary.
• He stated that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would issue a physician’s notice about potential risks of acetaminophen during pregnancy.
• In some remarks he also tied vaccines into discussions of autism, and proposed use of leucovorin (a folate derivative) as a possible treatment for autism symptoms.
Scientific Evidence & What Studies Say
Studies Suggesting an Association
• There are observational studies that have reported modest associations between prenatal acetaminophen (paracetamol) use and higher rates of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism or ADHD. For example, some meta-analyses or reviews have noted correlation.
• However, an important study in Sweden (2024) looked at nearly 2.5 million children and used sibling comparisons—this helps control for genetic and familial environmental factors. That study did not find a causal link between in-utero exposure to paracetamol and autism, intellectual disability, or ADHD.
Limitations and Caution
• Association does not equal causation. Even where correlations are observed, they could be due to confounding factors (e.g. illnesses in the mother that cause the need for painkillers, fever, genetics, other environmental exposures) rather than the drug itself.
• Some of the positive findings come from smaller, less rigorous studies which are more prone to various biases.
• The more robust, large-scale studies using good designs (e.g. sibling-comparison, adjusting for many variables) tend not to find a convincing effect.
Expert Reaction & Public Health Guidance
• Many medical and scientific experts have rejected the claim that there is strong evidence linking paracetamol use during pregnancy with autism.
• In the UK, the NHS guidance remains that paracetamol is the first-choice painkiller for pregnant women. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Royal Pharmaceutical Society, and others have said there is no evidence that taking paracetamol as directed causes autism.
• Regulatory bodies in Australia (e.g. TGA), as well as international experts, have also expressed that paracetamol is considered safe in pregnancy.
What Is Uncertain & What Remains to Be Resolved
• Because autism is a very heterogeneous condition with many genetic and environmental contributing factors, isolating one single exposure is difficult.
• Even in the large Swedish study, although no causal link was found, small associations in other studies suggest further research might be warranted to clarify any potential risk thresholds, timing of exposure, dosage, etc.
• Effects of fever, infection, or inflammation during pregnancy, which may themselves be harmful, complicate interpretation — sometimes paracetamol is used to reduce fever, which could itself be a risk factor if uncontrolled.
• The role of public messaging is also important: claims that are premature or not well-grounded in strong evidence can lead to anxiety, potentially lead to pregnant women avoiding needed treatment, or cause stigma.
Conclusion
The claim by Trump that prenatal paracetamol use causes autism is not supported by current high-quality scientific evidence. While there are some studies that observe an association, the strongest, well-designed ones have found no causal link. Public health authorities continue to consider paracetamol as a reasonably safe option during pregnancy when used as directed, especially for managing pain or fever, under medical supervision.
The assertion is controversial, and experts have warned that making strong statements now risks causing harm via misinformation or by discouraging medically necessary use of pain relief. More rigorous research is needed to clarify whether any risk exists under certain conditions, but for now the consensus is that the evidence is weak and not conclusive.
Attached is a news article regarding trump saying autism is linked to paracetamol
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx20d4lr67lo
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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