AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revived the unsubstantiated claim linking Tylenol (acetaminophen) usage to autism in children. Kennedy asserted the government is conducting studies to “prove” this link, citing correlations between acetaminophen use and autism rates in different countries. Prior research on this connection has been inconclusive, and major medical groups, along with bipartisan lawmakers, have refuted the administration’s recommendation against pregnant women taking Tylenol, emphasizing its safety for treating fever and pain, and the risks of untreated fevers during pregnancy. This stance is part of a pattern of controversial statements from Kennedy, who has long promoted the disproven link between vaccines and autism.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
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.”
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.
Tangent
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)
