Obama condemns Trump over autism-Tylenol claim as FDA warns on Tylenol during pregnancy

LONDON — Former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump’s recent claims linking autism to Tylenol, saying the administration is engaging in 'violence against the truth' and risking public health. Trump announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would warn doctors that Tylenol usage for pregnant women is associated with a 'very increased risk of autism' for children and urged pregnant women to avoid the medicine unless they cannot endure pain or have a high fever.

Obama made the remarks during an interview in London, at the O2 Arena, where he accused the Trump administration of making broad, unproven claims about drugs and autism. 'We have the spectacle of my successor in the Oval Office making broad claims around certain drugs and autism that have been continuously disproved,' Obama said. He argued that such statements can undermine public health, create unnecessary anxiety for parents of autistic children, and overlook that autism is a spectrum with changing diagnostic criteria that affects services and support.

The White House pushed back, describing Obama’s critique as 'pathetic political attacks' on foreign soil. White House spokesman Kush Desai said that Obama’s comments reflect a broader political shift among some voters and argued that Trump remains focused on addressing concerns of everyday Americans, including parents worried about autism rates. Desai cited statements by two mothers who attended a Roosevelt Room event as evidence of a broader constituency behind Trump’s approach.

The FDA warning about Tylenol in pregnancy was reportedly led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has previously linked vaccines to autism in young children. Trump has also argued that the nation’s vaccine schedule is 'disgraceful' as he promotes a broader reexamination of pediatric immunization policy. The president asserted that autism has risen dramatically—an increase he attributed to factors beyond genetics and more to policy and screening changes—though public health researchers emphasize that rises partly reflect broader criteria and improved recognition.

Obama’s comments come as a string of criticisms the former president has directed at Trump since the start of his second term. In London, he framed the confrontation as part of a longer pattern in which he says questions of science and truth have been tested by the current administration. He also stressed that the U.S. must balance public health messaging with clear, evidence-based information and avoid inflaming anxiety among families.

Meanwhile, Trump has framed the Tylenol warning as part of a broader effort to address what he calls skyrocketing autism rates, arguing for caution in medical messaging. He has repeatedly linked autism prevalence to changes in diagnostic criteria and to government policy, while relying on his own assertions about health policy. The exchange underscores a broader political battleground around science, health policy, and how information is conveyed to confused or concerned parents.

Experts note that autism prevalence statistics have evolved as diagnostic criteria broaden and screening expands, which can create apparent increases in reported cases even as the underlying incidence remains constant. The discussion in recent days reflects a tension between partisan leadership and public health communication during a period of heightened scrutiny of the federal government’s role in medicine.

As the dialogue continues, observers say the episode illustrates how public health messaging can become politicized, particularly as candidates vie for support among diverse constituencies including families affected by autism, medical professionals, and voters worried about the safety and efficacy of widely used drugs during pregnancy.