Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper skewers Trump over Tylenol-autism claim

On Tuesday, Daily Show correspondent Jordan Klepper skewered President Donald Trump over his assertion that Tylenol use during pregnancy may be linked to autism, a claim scientists say has no evidence. Klepper noted the administration’s history of tying vaccines to autism and reminded viewers that researchers have found no causal link between vaccines and autism.

During the segment, Klepper aired a clip of Trump struggling to pronounce acetaminophen, the generic name for Tylenol. He tied the moment to Trump’s broader history on medical issues, including his 2020 embrace of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment despite a lack of evidence. Klepper called the remarks “especially strange” and cited medical experts who called the claims irresponsible. He proceeded to play a supercut of Trump repeatedly warning Americans not to take the drug, including the line “Nothing bad can happen, it can only good happen.” Klepper quipped that Trump is “so pissed” at Tylenol and joked about him “bombing the pain reliever aisles at Walgreens.” “The joke’s on you, Trump, even missiles can’t get through that plexiglass. You’re going to have to ring that customer service button like the rest of us,” he added.

The comedian’s riffs landed within The Daily Show’s ongoing satire of public health messaging from federal officials, a topic the show has revisited as political leaders repeatedly discuss medical guidance. Klepper used the routine to emphasize the danger of politicizing medical advice and to highlight how past statements—such as tying vaccines to autism—have lingered in public discourse, even as researchers affirm no causal link exists. The routine also drew on Trump’s past promotion of hydroxychloroquine and other unproven measures, framing them as part of a pattern rather than isolated misstatements.

The segment aligns with a broader media conversation about how political figures communicate about health issues. By juxtaposing a mispronounced drug name with wildly unsubstantiated claims, Klepper aimed to illuminate how misinformation can travel from a presidential press conference to everyday conversations, prompting viewers to consult medical experts rather than rely on sensational statements. The monologue referenced public reporting and the scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism, reinforcing the standard in health reporting while delivering a satirical critique.

The HuffPost-covered moment echoed across outlets that chronicled Klepper’s takedown, underscoring the cultural role of late-night satire in processing political rhetoric during health crises. As the political cycle continues, The Daily Show’s approach remains to deliver information with humor, but with emphasis on accuracy and the potential real-world consequences of misinformation. The studio’s routine serves to contextualize emerging claims within established scientific findings, ensuring audiences understand the difference between opinion, policy, and evidence-based medicine.

Overall, the segment showcases how entertainment programs interpret and respond to medical misinformation in real time. By pairing critique with accessible humor, The Daily Show aims to inform viewers about why such statements matter while avoiding speculation about motives. The piece stands as a cultural moment that intersects politics, health communication, and media literacy, reflecting how audiences consume and digest complex issues in a televised satire format.