Doctors respond to Trump autism claim over Tylenol in pregnancy

Doctors across the United States said there is no conclusive evidence linking acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, to autism in children, and they cautioned that President Donald Trump’s remarks could fuel unnecessary anxiety among pregnant patients.

In remarks to reporters at a Monday press briefing, Trump suggested acetaminophen taken during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of autism and urged pregnant women to avoid the medication unless the fever was severe. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stood with him, but public health experts emphasized that the evidence does not support a causal link and that acetaminophen remains one of the few safe fever and pain relievers for pregnant people when used appropriately.

Dallas Reed, chief of genetics and an obstetrician-gynecologist at Tufts Medical Center, said he expected to field more questions from expectant mothers about Tylenol in the aftermath of Trump’s comments. “Is this why my child has autism?” one parent asked, underscoring the anxiety the president’s statements sparked. Reed stressed that research to date has not established a definitive link between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism and that anxiety around pregnancy is already high.

Experts also noted that public concern could distract from other important health conversations. Anna Langer, a 42-year-old Bay Area resident who is 21 weeks pregnant, said Trump’s comments “play on pregnant women’s anxiety” and described the advice as “very diminishing.” Medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have long indicated that acetaminophen is safe for managing fever and pain in pregnancy when used at recommended doses, while encouraging caution with any medication during pregnancy.

Researchers have long held that autism has no single cause and results from a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors. While some studies have found a small association between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism, others have found no link, and more comprehensive data have failed to establish causality. A 2024 Swedish study of nearly 2.5 million births found no consistent association. Still, concern remains among many parents, with some researchers urging careful interpretation of observational data and ongoing dialogue between patients and clinicians.

Public health officials say the best course is to follow established guidelines and individualized medical advice. Doctors said they would not change practice based on a political remark or a single FDA notice. An FDA communication circulated to physicians cautioned that any potential link remains unproven and advised clinicians to limit acetaminophen use for low-grade fevers when appropriate, but it reiterates that acetaminophen is one of the few safe fever relievers during pregnancy.

Allison Bryant, a high-risk obstetrician at Massachusetts General Hospital, described the remarks as distracting from real health care: “It is troubling and worrisome,” she said, adding that untreated fevers can pose risks to both mother and fetus. Elizabeth Langen, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Michigan Medicine, emphasized that leaving pregnant patients in pain is not a healthy approach and that shared decision-making remains the standard.

Emily Oster, a Brown University economist who writes about parenting and pregnancy, said she received a wave of messages from anxious mothers and warned that public statements can amplify fear. “We are scaring a bunch of people for no reason about things they did in the past,” she said.

While Trump’s opponents argued the remarks were politically charged, doctors stressed that their guidance would continue to rely on medical guidelines and peer-reviewed evidence. Reed said the medical community would keep reassuring patients and focusing on the best available information, while providers carve out space to discuss broader health concerns beyond this controversy.

In brief: Trump’s comments have prompted worries among pregnant patients and drawn responses from clinicians who point to the lack of conclusive evidence linking acetaminophen to autism and to the importance of treating fever and pain when medically indicated. The medical community plans to maintain evidence-based counseling, avoid unnecessary alarm, and rely on established guidelines as the public health conversation evolves.