Australia seeks urgent guidance after Trump ties autism to paracetamol

Australia's government said it is seeking urgent medical and regulatory guidance after remarks by Donald Trump tying autism to the use of paracetamol during pregnancy. During a bombshell press conference on September 22, 2025, the former U.S. president said the FDA would immediately notify physicians to warn pregnant women to avoid paracetamol, such as Panadol or Tylenol, unless medically necessary, such as in cases of extremely high fever. He urged pregnant women to "fight like hell" not to take it and to refrain from giving it to children.

In Canberra, Health Minister Mark Butler's office said urgent advice was being sought in response to the remarks, according to the Daily Mail. The report also noted that Australia’s medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), would weigh in as part of a precautionary review. The government emphasized that the inquiry is a precautionary step and did not indicate an imminent change to national guidelines.

The TGA said paracetamol remains safe for use in pregnancy and continues to be classified as pregnancy category A, meaning it is considered safe when used as directed. The agency stressed that the use of medications in pregnancy is evaluated at the time of a medicine's registration, incorporating clinical, scientific and toxicological data. There were no reports of active safety investigations by the TGA into paracetamol and autism, the regulator added.

The safety and developmental implications of prenatal paracetamol exposure have been studied for years, but researchers have not established a consistent link to autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Major health bodies, including those in Australia, continue to recommend paracetamol for pregnant women when it is medically necessary, noting that the benefits often outweigh potential risks. The new comments from the Trump administration have nonetheless intensified a cross-border conversation about how to communicate evolving or unsettled findings in real time to clinicians and expectant families.

Across Australia and in other countries, public-health officials said there is no basis yet to alter guidelines while further evidence is assessed. The focus remains on ensuring clinicians have the latest, evidence-based guidance and on monitoring any new information that could affect recommendations for medications used in pregnancy. Health officials also stressed that individual medical decisions should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider, considering the mother's specific medical needs and fever management.

In a world where medical guidance can shift rapidly with new headlines, the episode underlines the ongoing challenge of translating early or equivocal research into practice. For now, Australian authorities say the immediate priority is to seek expert input, review regulatory considerations, and preserve clear communication with clinicians and the public while the facts continue to unfold.