U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician from Louisiana, publicly challenged President Donald Trump’s recent claims linking acetaminophen — commonly known by the brand name Tylenol — to autism in children.
During a White House news conference, President Trump warned pregnant women to avoid Tylenol, suggesting it could increase the risk of autism, but his statements lacked scientific backing.
Dr. Cassidy took to social media platform X to clarify that current research does not support this connection. “The preponderance of evidence shows that this is not the case,” Cassidy wrote. While he applauded the president’s concern for autism, Cassidy stressed the importance of relying on solid science before making such claims. He also warned that discouraging acetaminophen use could leave pregnant women without effective pain relief options.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) echoed this stance. ACOG president Dr. Steven J. Fleischman called the claims “not backed by the full body of scientific evidence” and said they “dangerously simplify the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children.”
He emphasized acetaminophen’s safety and benefits during pregnancy for managing pain and fever, cautioning that misleading messages could confuse and harm patients.
During the conference, President Trump repeatedly urged pregnant women to “fight like hell” to avoid taking Tylenol and advised against giving it to infants. He also repeated disproven ideas linking vaccines and their timing to rising autism rates, without providing evidence.
This announcement comes amid ongoing debates fueled by some groups, including supporters of Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., who have pushed controversial and disproven claims about vaccines and autism. Despite President Trump’s prior efforts to promote COVID-19 vaccines during his first term, he has expressed ongoing concerns about childhood vaccine schedules.
In summary, experts caution expecting mothers to consult healthcare providers before stopping any medication. Acetaminophen remains a recommended and widely used treatment for pain and fever during pregnancy, according to leading medical organizations.
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