Medical experts challenge Trump Tylenol-pregnancy autism claims; ACOG calls guidance irresponsible
ACOG and SMFM push back against the president's assertion that avoiding acetaminophen during pregnancy prevents autism, saying evidence is insufficient and messaging could mislead.
On Monday, medical experts challenged President Donald Trump's assertion that avoiding Tylenol during pregnancy would prevent autism, with major obstetrics groups describing the administration's guidance as irresponsible and unsettling. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said the administration's announcement is not supported by the full body of scientific evidence and risks misinforming millions of patients about pregnancy health.
ACOG President Steven J. Fleischman said that no reputable study to date has conclusively linked acetaminophen use in any trimester to neurodevelopmental disorders in children, and he noted that many studies cited to support such claims rely on self-reported data and do not adequately control for confounding variables. The group also emphasized that untreated fever and pain during pregnancy can pose substantial risks to both the pregnant person and the fetus.
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine also questioned the administration's conclusions while reaffirming that acetaminophen remains an appropriate medication to treat pain and fever during pregnancy when used as directed. SMFM highlighted that at-risk conditions during pregnancy can become more dangerous if not treated, and that clinical decisions should rest on current guidelines and robust evidence.
Trump defended his position in remarks to reporters, arguing that opponents may have valid concerns but that there is no proven downside to avoiding Tylenol during pregnancy. He described the disagreement among experts as a classic dispute between political messaging and medical science, though he did not retract his broader point about exercising caution with medications.
Health professionals stressed that the medical record shows acetaminophen is a commonly used, generally safe option for fever and pain in pregnancy when used appropriately, and that the danger of untreated fever or pain can include miscarriage, preterm birth, and congenital complications. They urged patients and clinicians to rely on established guidelines and to discuss individual risks and benefits.
The episode underscores ongoing questions about how federal health guidance is communicated and interpreted by the public, particularly when it touches sensitive issues in pregnancy. Experts say careful messaging and reliance on high-quality evidence remain essential as researchers continue to study neurodevelopmental outcomes and the safety of widely used medications.