In an extraordinary White House news conference, the Republican president offered medical advice to pregnant women and parents of young children, repeatedly urging them to avoid using or giving the painkiller Tylenol. He also suggested that common vaccines should not be administered together or so early in a child’s life.
Trump’s advice, despite his acknowledgment that he is not a doctor, runs counter to the guidance of major medical societies. These organizations cite extensive data from numerous studies that affirm the safety of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, for pregnant women.
“I want to say it like it is, don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it,” Trump stated. Referring to vaccines, he added, “Other things that we recommend, or certainly I do anyway, is … don’t let them pump your baby up with the largest pile of stuff you’ve ever seen in your life.”
Trump Administration Promotes Leucovorin as a Treatment
Trump’s team suggested leucovorin, a form of folic acid, as a potential treatment for autism symptoms. This announcement was immediately decried by dozens of medical, research, and autism advocacy groups, including the American Academy of Paediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The Coalition of Autism Scientists issued a statement saying, “The data cited do not support the claim that Tylenol causes autism and leucovorin is a cure, and only stoke fear and falsely suggest hope when there is no simple answer.”
Standing alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine critic, Trump called for a re-examination of a link between vaccines and autism, a theory that has been repeatedly debunked by the scientific community.
Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, released a statement saying, “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers and parents.”
Kenvue Shares Recover After Initial Drop
Shares of Kenvue, a consumer health company, recovered by 5% in extended trading after initially falling by over 7% during Monday’s trading session. The stock has been down approximately 14% since September 5, when The Wall Street Journal reported that Kennedy planned to link acetaminophen to autism. Kenvue was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023.
Trump also expressed his support for vaccines, noting his role in his first term in a pandemic initiative to speed up Covid-19 vaccine development. However, he also called for the removal of mercury from vaccines and stated that children should not receive the hepatitis B vaccine before age 12, even though it is typically administered within the first 24 hours after birth. He also suggested that the measles-mumps-rubella combination vaccine should be split into three separate shots.
The Tylenol-autism link announcement was reminiscent of Trump’s regular press briefings during the early months of the pandemic, when he frequently offered advice not based on scientific evidence, including his infamous suggestion that people ingest bleach.
Numerous studies have confirmed that vaccines are safe and have been instrumental in eradicating childhood diseases like polio and measles in the U.S. According to Michael J. Nyenhuis, President and CEO of Unicef USA, it is estimated that essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives over the past 50 years. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that only one in four Americans believes the Trump administration’s recent recommendations for fewer vaccines were based on scientific evidence and facts.
Dr. Norman Baylor, the former director of the FDA’s Office of Vaccines Research and Review, commented, “I cannot say that I’ve ever experienced anything like this in vaccines.”
Trump Administration Announces Future Steps
Marty Makary, the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), told reporters that the Trump administration has asked drug companies to be ready to increase production of leucovorin for the treatment of some autism patients. The FDA had previously approved a version of the drug made by GSK for a condition associated with autism, although the drugmaker no longer manufactures it. The administration stated that once its use is established, Medicaid insurance for low-income individuals would cover the drug for autism symptoms.
The FDA’s approval process for the drug cited a review of its use in 40 patients with a rare metabolic disorder called cerebral folate deficiency, which can lead to neurological symptoms similar to some seen in people with autism.
The FDA also announced it would seek a label change for over-the-counter Tylenol and its generic versions to include evidence suggesting that its use during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children. The FDA also sent a letter with a similar warning to doctors but clarified that a causal relationship had not yet been established.
Researchers’ View: No Causal Link
Researchers maintain there is no firm evidence of a causal link between Tylenol use and autism. A 2024 study of nearly 2.5 million children in Sweden found no causal link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders. While a 2025 review of 46 earlier studies suggested a link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and increased risks of these conditions, the researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Harvard University, and other institutions clarified that the study does not prove the drug caused the outcomes.
They advised that pregnant women should continue to use acetaminophen as needed, at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest possible period. Trump administration officials cited this same review and used similar language in their advice.
Dr. Diana Schendel, an autism researcher at the A J Drexel Autism Institute, stated, “It is clear that the Tylenol-autism link is not a new question — it has been looked at many times and in many different studies.” She noted that she would like to see what new evidence the administration provides, adding, “Without showing any evidence to back them up, the announcements become reckless and potentially harmful.” Researchers also said that while leucovorin, used to treat some cancer patients, has shown some promise in very small trials, large, randomized trials are still needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Dr. Audrey Brumback, an autism expert and researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, said, “There’s not good evidence that it works. There are some studies, but they’re small and they’re not the best studies. And so it’s certainly not something I’m actively recommending.”
