President Trump Links Tylenol Use in Pregnancy to Autism Risk, Launching Major Research Initiative into Autism Causes

TRUMP: The meteoric rise in autism among the most alarming public health developments in history

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump on Monday tied the use of Tylenol during pregnancy to an increased risk of autism in children, marking a major policy shift that immediately drew backlash from medical experts and drug manufacturers.

Speaking at the White House alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, Trump said that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, “can be associated with a very increased risk of autism” when taken by pregnant women.

He urged women to avoid the medication unless medically necessary.

“The meteoric rise in autism is among the most alarming public health developments in history,” Trump said. “So taking Tylenol is not good. For this reason, they are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary.”

The FDA echoed the president’s warning, with Commissioner Makary citing data from long-term studies such as the Boston Birth Cohort and the Nurses’ Health Study. He said the research showed “a causal relationship between prenatal acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.”

Kennedy Jr. said the administration is “turning over every stone” to uncover environmental causes of autism, criticizing past federal research for focusing too heavily on genetics. “That would be like studying the genetic drivers of lung cancer without looking at cigarettes,” he said.

The announcement follows months of hints from Trump, who told supporters over the weekend that he would unveil one of the “biggest medical announcements in the history of our country.”

Drugmaker Kenvue, which manufactures Tylenol, strongly rejected the administration’s claims.

“Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women,” a spokesperson said. “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.”

Medical organizations have historically recommended acetaminophen as a safe pain reliever for pregnant women, and the CDC has pointed to improved diagnostics — not environmental factors — as a key driver of autism’s rising prevalence. A 2025 CDC report found one in 31 8-year-olds had an autism diagnosis, compared to one in 36 in 2000.

Trump also reignited controversy over childhood vaccinations during the briefing, warning against what he called “too many shots” for young children. “It’s too much liquid, too many different things are going into that baby,” he said.

The administration announced earlier this year it was launching a major research initiative into autism causes, with Trump calling the effort a “historic step” toward preventing and reversing the condition.

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