Topline
President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reiterated the unverified and highly controversial suggestion that Tylenol usage is linked to autism in children during a press conference Thursday where Kennedy said the federal government is “doing the studies to make the proof.”
US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (2L) speaks during a cabinet meeting hosted by US President Donald Trump (R) in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 9, 2025. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
Kennedy, pointing to studies he claimed show “the countries that use the most [acetaminophen] have the highest level of autism,” said “it’s not proof. We’re doing the studies to make the proof.”
He also said there are “two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, and it’s highly likely it’s because they’re given Tylenol,” to which Trump replied “there’s a tremendous amount of proof or evidence,” without giving examples.
Previous studies on a potential link between autism and acetaminophen have produced inconclusive results, and major medical groups have refuted the Trump administration’s recommendations that pregnant women shouldn’t take Tylenol, reiterating that it is safe to treat fever and pain and noting untreated fevers during pregnancy carry significant health risks.
Trump also said the Amish population, “where they don’t take any of this stuff,” has “virtually no autism,” repeating a false claim he made in September (the Amish community has reported cases of autism in children, though little conclusive health research on the community exists and is difficult to compare with the general population due to differences in culture and healthcare).
Tangent
Kennedy told a story about watching a pregnant woman on TikTok “saying ‘F-Trump’ and gobbling Tylenol with her baby in her placenta,” alleging “we are seeing it across the board” among pregnant women who are trying “to get back at Donald Trump.” The context of the video is unclear and there’s no evidence of the trend Kennedy described.
Key Background
Trump said in September the Food and Drug Administration would begin recommending to physicians that pregnant women should avoid taking Tylenol. “Fight like hell not to take it,” Trump told pregnant women, while also suggesting children shouldn’t take Tylenol. The comments sparked backlash among the medical community and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers. It’s among a series of controversial policies and statements from Kennedy, who has for years promoted the disproven claim that vaccines cause autism.
Further Reading
Thune Becomes Highest-Ranking Republican To Cast Doubt On Trump’s Claims About Tylenol And Autism (Forbes)
Trump Ties Tylenol During Pregnancy To Autism: ‘Don’t Take It’ (Forbes)
RFK Jr. Promises To Identify Cause Of Autism By September — What To Know About His Claim (Forbes)
