Trump addressing questions after an announcement that federal health officials are updating Tylenol prescriptions with warning labels.                                                                                             Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Trump Claims Tylenol Causes Autism

BY SAYU VINOD

OCTOBER 5, 2025

During a White House news conference on September 22nd, President Trump claimed that the use of Tylenol during pregnancy can cause autism. Trump’s announcement has drawn opposition from political figures and health experts alike, as the cause of autism has been researched for decades.

Several doctors and experts have spoken up, citing evidence from various studies on autism that do show there is no definitive link between the use of acetaminophen - Tylenol’s active ingredient - during pregnancy, and autism.

According to junior Jazeeb Oni, Trump’s claims are “nonsensical… there is no scientific evidence to back the fact that autism is caused by medication… The implications of this fallacy are harmful in terms of the understanding of medicine and general information as we know it.” Trump’s declaration lacked any hard evidence; he spoke in vague terms and cited “common sense” as his sole source of evidence.

Junior Abigail Effendi said, “with newer research and the applications we have now, there is no link to autism and any medications, including Tylenol and vaccines… People should instead consult those who have earned their degree and are educated in the field.”

These allegations have been accompanied by reports of warning labels on Tylenol products citing a “possible association between autism spectrum disorder and the use of Tylenol,” though career experts have dismissed these claims, instead pointing to historical attempts to associate working mothers with a heightened risk of autism.

Senior, Kaavya Shah, said, “I feel that these claims are familiar to those of the past, pushing a mentality that women have to submit to pain and suffering for their children. I just feel that we should be weary when accepting something as fact and really consider ulterior motives when looking at agendas from people who aren’t even associated with the industry.”

As of now, research is being conducted to determine whether there is any measurable link between acetaminophen and autism. Many feel that Trump’s claims undermine public trust in healthcare but also contribute to the spread of misinformation in the American public. Despite varied opinions on these allegations, both the public and experts await further research into the inconclusive causes of autism.