Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that pregnant women should follow their doctors’ recommendations when deciding whether to take Tylenol. His comments came after former President Donald Trump discouraged its use during pregnancy, citing unproven claims.
“We know that some medications have side effects, and sometimes they’re still necessary,” Vance told NewsNation. “My guidance to pregnant women is very simple: Follow your doctor.”
Trump raises concerns without evidence
On Monday, Trump told pregnant women to avoid Tylenol, whose active ingredient is acetaminophen, suggesting a possible link to autism in children. No scientific consensus supports this claim. He made the remarks at a White House media event with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump urged women to “fight like hell” not to take the medication unless “medically necessary,” adding, “Don’t take it. There’s no downside in not taking it.”
Medical community disputes claims
Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, strongly criticized Trump’s comments. He said they are “not backed by the full body of scientific evidence and dangerously simplify the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children.”
Research has not established that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. A Journal of the American Medical Association study in 2022 found no significant association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and children’s risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability.
Obama warns of misinformation’s impact
Former President Barack Obama also weighed in, warning that such statements could harm pregnant women and create unnecessary anxiety for parents. “That undermines public health,” Obama said in an interview. “All of that is violence against the truth.”
Bottom line for pregnant women
Acetaminophen remains one of the few pain and fever relief options considered safe during pregnancy when used as directed. Experts stress that women should not make decisions based on political statements but instead rely on guidance from their healthcare providers.
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