Medical experts in the US and UK have strongly criticised President Donald Trump after he claimed that paracetamol (Tylenol) taken during pregnancy could be linked to autism.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, Trump suggested that doctors would soon be advised against prescribing the drug to pregnant women, warning that it is “no good” and should only be taken in cases of extreme fever.
He urged women to “fight like hell” against its use.
The remarks immediately drew backlash from health professionals.
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting dismissed the comments outright, saying: “I trust doctors over President Trump, frankly, on this.”
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) stressed there is no conclusive evidence backing Trump’s statement.
Its president, Dr Steven Fleischman, said: “The claim dangerously simplifies the many complex causes of neurologic challenges in children.”
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a more cautious stance, advising doctors to limit Tylenol use where possible but reaffirming that it remains the safest option for fever and pain management in expectant mothers.
The FDA clarified: “An association has been described in some studies, but no causal relationship has been established.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s ally, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced that the FDA would soon add a safety label to Tylenol and launch a public health campaign.
He also revealed plans to approve leucovorin, a cancer drug, for limited autism treatment trials, though experts warned evidence remains preliminary.
Tylenol’s manufacturer, Kenvue, strongly rejected Trump’s remarks, calling them misleading and dangerous for pregnant women.
Recent studies show mixed results. A 2025 Harvard review found 27 of 46 studies suggesting a possible link, while a large-scale Swedish study involving 2.4 million children found no evidence at all.
Experts, including Durham University psychologist Monique Botha, insist there is “no robust evidence” proving a connection.
The National Autistic Society also condemned Trump, accusing him of spreading misinformation and devaluing autistic people.
The announcement sparked anxiety among some expectant mothers. Haley Drenon, a pregnant woman from Texas, said the remarks were alarming: “It seems unnecessary because the data is not irrefutable.”
Autism diagnoses have risen in recent decades, with the CDC reporting a 2.77% prevalence among 8-year-olds in 2020.
Experts attribute this to broader awareness and diagnostic changes, not paracetamol use.
Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have previously made controversial claims about autism, often clashing with scientific consensus.
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