Trump vs. Science: Tylenol, Pregnancy, and Autism

For decades, Tylenol (acetaminophen) has been the most commonly recommended medication for pain and fever during pregnancy. Doctors favor it because untreated fever or pain can be dangerous for both mother and baby.

Now it’s the center of controversy after Donald Trump’s announcement linking Tylenol to autism and promising new FDA label warnings. The problem? The best available evidence does not support that claim.

What the Research Actually Shows

Over the past 15 years, dozens of studies have looked for connections between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and childhood neurodevelopmental disorders.

• Some studies have found associations — meaning children exposed in the womb were slightly more likely to be diagnosed with autism or ADHD.

  
  

• But association is not causation. Those children might differ for other reasons — genetics, health conditions, or the very fevers that led mothers to take Tylenol in the first place.

A landmark 2024 Swedish study of more than 2.4 million children found that when researchers compared siblings (one exposed, one not), the link disappeared. Lead author Dr. Brian Lee explained:

“Users of acetaminophen differ from non-users in a number of ways, and standard statistical analyses can’t control for all those differences.”

That’s a polite way of saying: Tylenol probably isn’t the culprit.

Researchers Say: Use Cautiously, But Don’t Panic

A 2025 review from Mount Sinai and Harvard looked at 46 studies. Higher-quality studies were more likely to show associations, but even then, the authors stressed that proof of causation is lacking.

As co-author Dr. Diddier Prada noted:

“Given the widespread use of this medication, even a small increase in risk could have major public health implications.”

That’s a call for more research — not a ban. His colleague, epidemiologist Ann Bauer, was clearer:

“Tylenol is still an option. What we recommend is judicious use — the lowest effective dose, for the shortest time, under medical guidance.”

Trump’s Announcement and the Expert Pushback

On September 22, 2025, Trump stood beside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and declared that pregnant women should avoid Tylenol unless absolutely necessary. He said the FDA would begin warning doctors that acetaminophen “can be associated” with autism, and even floated leucovorin, a folate derivative, as a treatment for autistic children.

But the scientific consensus does not match the certainty of Trump’s words.

• Dr. Céline Gounder, public health expert:

  “The best evidence does not show an association between Tylenol and autism.”

• Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):

  “Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients.”

  
  

Even the FDA’s own statements have said there is possible association but no established causal link.

Why This Matters

Autism rates have risen in recent decades, and families deserve honest, evidence-based answers. But when political leaders frame associations as proof, they risk misleading the public — and putting pregnant women in a dangerous position of avoiding treatment for fevers or pain that could themselves harm a developing baby.

The real message from experts is simple: there is no proof Tylenol causes autism. Use it cautiously, as needed, under medical guidance. Everything else is noise.