Trump vs. Tylenol: The White House Briefing Confusing Health Specialists Across the Globe

Last week, President Donald Trump held a press conference to express his concerns that acetaminophen might cause autism in children, and that vaccinations might also be linked. Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in the popular over-the- counter pain reliever Tylenol.

Autism spectrum disorder is a highly complex neurodevelopmental
disorder, with a variety of symptoms and characteristics. Donald Trump’s accusations about Tylenol seem to be false, as scientists have pushed back against these claims, citing a lack of evidence for his claims. World Health Organization spokesperson Tarik Jašarević stated during a press briefing that,
“There were some observational studies that have suggested a possible association betweenprenatal exposure to acetaminophen, but the evidence remains inconsistent…several stud- ies done after that have found no such rela- tionship. So this lack of replicability calls for caution in drawing causal conclusions about the role of acetaminophen in autism.”

Donald Trump did not have any factual evidence to back up his claims, and stated that it was his own opinion, not any doctor’s. Tylenol responded by stating that acetaminophen is ‘the safest pain reliever’ choice for pregnant women. However, they also expressed the importance of talking to a doctor before taking any kind of over-the-counter drug. The suggestion that taking Tylenol is to blame for their child’s autism, risks piling guilt onto pregnant women and new mothers, many of whom already face challenges such as postpartum depression.

In a separate post made by the President on Truth Social he said,

“Starting October 1st, 2025, we will be im- posing a 100% tariff on any branded or patented pharmaceutical product, unless a company IS BUILDING their Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant in America. “IS BUILDING” will be defined as, “breaking ground” and/or “ under construction.” There will, therefore, be no tariff on these pharmaceutical products if construction has started.”

He claims this will lower drug costs, though economists warn it may instead drive prices up for many patients.

Trump’s attack on Tylenol is more than a health concern for pregnant women. It’s pushing false rhetoric on members of the Autism community, and it only further pushes the misguided idea that Autism is a ‘disease’ in need of a cure. These stigmatized claims are quite distasteful, as he continues to spread misinformation through his social media posts. This type of rhetoric is harmful because it spreads misinformation, fuels fear and diverts attention away from what really matters: supporting autistic individuals and their families through acceptance, resources, and inclusion.