President Donald Trump and his administration are ruffling feathers in the medical community with the surprise announcement that linked autism to the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy. Here is a look at what the president announced, as well as the implications that it may have on maternal medicine.

Trump Announces Links Between Tylenol Use in Pregnancy and Autism

The Trump administration announced on Monday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will notify physicians that the use of Tylenol during pregnancy may be associated with a “very increased risk of autism.” The announcement comes despite years of scientific evidence that Tylenol is a safe drug for pregnant women. Trump said that the FDA is strongly recommending that women limit the use of Tylenol while pregnant unless it is medically necessary.

Experts say that fever can be dangerous for both the pregnant person and the fetus if left untreated. Potential risks of fever while pregnant include birth defects, miscarriage, and high blood pressure.

Acetaminophen is most commonly sold under the brand name Tylenol. Past studies have shown that most people use this drug at some point during pregnancy, as it is currently considered to be the only safe over-the-counter treatment for fever or pain in pregnant people. For example, drugs such as ibuprofen have been shown to increase the risk of serious complications while pregnant.

Trump made the announcement from the White House late Monday afternoon, speaking alongside Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, National Institutes of Health (NIH)  Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. While the press conference was initially intended to focus on the issue of Tylenol during pregnancy, the president also spoke about breaking up childhood vaccines. Trump also voiced his opinion about pushing back the hepatitis B shot that is routinely recommended for newborns to age 12.

Many members of the medical community immediately came out against Trump's opinions about Tylenol and pregnancy, noting that there has been no credible link established between Tylenol and autism. Additionally, physicians are also raising the alarm bells about Kennedy's views that vaccines cause autism. Kennedy has distinguished himself as a longtime opponent of vaccines.

Kennedy also chimed in on Monday, saying that the HHS will soon launch a public service campaign designed to inform American families how to protect public health by avoiding taking Tylenol during pregnancy. He went on to say that the HHS is encouraging medical professionals to exercise their best judgment and advise the use of acetaminophen for fevers and pain in pregnancy through the lowest effective dose, only when necessary.

The FDA confirmed that it is starting the process of changing the safety label on acetaminophen products. The agency also said that it was sending a letter to doctors, detailing that parents can still decide if they want to take Tylenol. The FDA did not appear to be as adamant about the link between the use of Tylenol and autism, saying that “a causal relationship has not been established.”

Tylenol Responds to Claims

Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue responded to the announcement by the Trump administration by saying that it "strongly disagrees” that acetaminophen is linked to autism. Kenvue also said that it is concerned about the health risks that expectant mothers may face without the treatment. The company said that it will continue its efforts to encourage expectant mothers to make these decisions in consultation with their health care providers.

There have been numerous studies over the years looking at the connection between Tylenol and autism. Most recently, a 2024 peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found no association between acetaminophen taken during pregnancy and autism. The study of over 2 million children also found no link between the drug and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or other types of neurodevelopmental disorders.

The NIH announced on Monday that it was directing over $500 million in awards toward 13 different research projects surrounding autism and its causes.  The news comes as the number of people diagnosed with autism in the country continues to skyrocket. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 31 kids were diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum by age 8 in 2022. This is up from just 1 in 36 in 2020 and 1 in 68 in 2015.

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