Global medical community rejects Trump’s Tylenol-autism claims: Statements compilation

Editor's Note

Medical and scientific groups across the US and abroad swiftly pushed back against President Donald Trump’s September 22 announcement that acetaminophen use in pregnancy may cause autism, with experts warning the claims are unsupported and potentially harmful. Trump, joined by HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, also suggested childhood vaccines contribute to autism and promoted leucovorin as a treatment option, despite limited or conflicting evidence.

According to ABC News September 23, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called the statements “highly concerning” and “irresponsible,” citing more than 2 decades of data showing no link between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine emphasized untreated pain and fever during pregnancy carry greater risks than acetaminophen itself, including miscarriage, birth defects, and hypertension. The American Academy of Pediatrics dismissed Trump’s vaccine claims as “dangerous,” reiterating decades of research confirming vaccines do not cause autism.

International regulators issued similar rejections. As reported by NBC News September 23, the European Medicines Agency affirmed data from millions of pregnancies show no risk of autism or birth defects tied to acetaminophen, maintaining current safety guidance. The World Health Organization called the evidence inconsistent and stressed that vaccines save lives and do not cause autism. Regulators in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, and Spain reaffirmed acetaminophen’s safety when used appropriately, with some warning that discouraging its use during pregnancy is dangerous and even misogynistic.

Autism advocacy and research groups also condemned the administration’s claims. The Autism Science Foundation on September 22 labeled the announcement “dangerous,” noting that no new data were presented and that the cited studies suffer from methodological flaws, including failure to control for genetics and maternal health. The foundation stressed that autism results from complex genetic and environmental interactions, not a single cause. It also rejected leucovorin as a recommended treatment, pointing to very small, inconsistent trials. Similarly, the Autism Society of America warned that premature claims about causes or cures risk false hope and distract from the real needs of autistic individuals, while the Coalition of Autism Scientists urged rigorous, large-scale studies before any treatment recommendations.

The National Medical Association on September 23 called the federal announcement “confusing and potentially harmful,” especially for Black patients and families. On September 24, American Nurses Association CEO Marketa Houskova, DNP, MAIA, BA, RN, “strongly condemn[ed] the misleading assertions in the White House announcement,” adding that “nurses stand for evidence-based care and compassionate support” for autistic individuals and their families.

Across statements, healthcare leaders agreed: Acetaminophen remains an appropriate option in pregnancy, vaccines are safe, and autism’s causes are multifactorial and not linked to these treatments. Experts again cautioned against policymaking without rigorous science, as such actions erode trust and create unnecessary uncertainty.