Why Trump’s Autism Comments Are Harmful — and What the Evidence Shows

Autism is back in the headlines — this time because of Donald Trump (of all people!). Recently, he made a speech at the White House and suggested that taking Tylenol (paracetamol) during pregnancy might be linked to autism, doubling down on his long-running insinuations about vaccines too.

If you’ve seen the soundbites floating around online, you might be wondering: is there any truth to this? And more importantly, why are these kinds of claims so damaging?

Let’s talk about what the science actually says about Tylenol and autism, why misinformation spreads so easily, and how this narrative hurts autistic people and their families.

What the science really says about Tylenol and autism

Here’s the short version: scientists have looked into whether acetaminophen (that’s Tylenol in the US, paracetamol in the UK) could be linked to autism or ADHD when used during pregnancy. A few large observational studies have found an association between prenatal Tylenol use and slightly higher rates of autism diagnoses.

But — and this is a huge but — association is not the same as causation. The big problem is that people who take more Tylenol in pregnancy might also have other factors at play, like illness, fever, or genetics, that influence outcomes.

The best-designed studies, like one published in JAMA that compared siblings (so the family genetics and environment are the same), found no meaningful link once those factors were controlled for. In other words: when you strip away the confounding stuff, the Tylenol-autism connection disappears.

Recent reviews (like a 2025 Environmental Health evaluation) summed it up well: there might be signals worth studying further, but the evidence isn’t strong enough to indicate Tylenol causes autism. And groups like the WHO, FDA, and major medical associations are clear — there’s no reason for pregnant people to panic or suddenly avoid acetaminophen when a doctor recommends it.

Why misinformation is so damaging

So if the science is mixed and inconclusive, why does it matter if Trump or anyone else throws this claim into the spotlight? Here’s why:

1. It fuels stigma. Autism isn’t a disease to be prevented — it’s a neurotype. Suggesting it’s caused by something as simple as taking Tylenol in pregnancy frames autism as a tragedy and makes parents feel like they “caused” it. That adds unnecessary guilt and shame.

   
   

2. It undermines public health. Remember when vaccine misinformation spread and measles outbreaks followed? Claims like these can have the same effect. If pregnant women avoid safe fever treatment because of scary headlines, it can actually put them and their babies at far more risk. It is not about "toughing it out".

   
   

3. It distracts from what actually matters. Instead of chasing a single “cause” of autism, we should be focusing on making society more inclusive: better diagnostic services, accessible education, workplace accommodations, and celebrating autistic voices.

What we should really be talking about

Autistic people don’t need politicians arguing about Tylenol. What they need is respect, understanding, and support. That means:

• Listening to autistic voices. Let’s centre the lived experiences of autistic people instead of reducing autism to a political talking point.

  
  

• Building inclusive communities. From schools to workplaces, accommodations and acceptance make the biggest difference.

  
  

• Funding meaningful research and services. Not just studies chasing a “cure” but projects that improve quality of life, access to care, and mental health support.

Yes, scientists are still studying the potential links between paracetamol and neurodevelopment. But the current evidence is inconsistent, often disappears under stricter analysis, and is nowhere near conclusive. Medical experts around the world say pregnant women should continue to follow their doctor’s advice — not political headlines.

At the end of the day, autism isn’t caused by one pill or one vaccine. And misinformation like this only harms the very people we should be supporting: the autistic community.