The Paracetamol Panic: How Trump Ignored Science to Push Dangerous Medical Advice

On 22 September 2025, President Donald Trump made headlines by warning pregnant women to avoid paracetamol (known as Tylenol in America), claiming the widely-used painkiller causes autism. Standing alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump declared that paracetamol was "no good" and instructed pregnant women to "tough it out" rather than use the medication. These bold claims deserve careful examination against the actual scientific evidence.

What Trump Said

During a White House press conference, Trump made several specific assertions:

• "Don't take Tylenol" - He repeatedly warned pregnant women against using paracetamol

• Claims about Cuba and the Amish - Trump suggested these populations have "virtually no autism" because they don't use paracetamol

• Vaccine connections - He also linked childhood vaccines to autism, describing immunisations as "pumping" substances "into those beautiful little babies"

• FDA label changes - His administration announced plans to update paracetamol labels with autism warnings

These statements represent a significant departure from established medical guidance and deserve scrutiny based on scientific evidence.

The Scientific Reality

The Gold Standard Study

The most comprehensive and methodologically robust research on this topic comes from a 2024 study published in JAMA, one of medicine's most prestigious journals. This Swedish study analyzed data from over 2.4 million children born between 1995-2019 - making it the largest study of its kind ever conducted.

Key findings:

• Initially, researchers found a slight association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism/ADHD

• However, when they compared siblings within the same families (controlling for genetics, environment, and other factors), this association completely disappeared

• The sibling analysis found no evidence that acetaminophen use during pregnancy increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability

This sibling comparison method is considered the gold standard in epidemiological research because it eliminates confounding factors that can create false associations.

Why Previous Studies Showed Associations

Earlier studies that suggested links between acetaminophen and autism suffered from what researchers call "confounding" - where other factors create the appearance of a relationship that doesn't actually exist.

Common confounding factors include:

• Underlying conditions - Pregnant women taking acetaminophen often have fever, infections, or chronic conditions that themselves may increase autism risk

• Socioeconomic factors - Usage patterns differ across income levels, education, and healthcare access

• Genetic factors - Families with certain genetic predispositions may be more likely to both use acetaminophen and have children with developmental differences

The 2024 JAMA study's sibling design effectively controlled for these confounding factors, which is why the association vanished when proper controls were applied.

Global Health Expert Response

Trump's claims were immediately rejected by health authorities worldwide:

European Medicines Agency: "Available evidence has found no link between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism."

UK's Medicine and Healthcare Regulatory Authority: "There is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children. None."

World Health Organization: Affirmed that vaccines do not cause autism, stating "this is something that science has proven, and these things should not be really questioned."

Australia's Chief Medical Officer: Joined with "global medicines regulators, leading clinicians and scientists worldwide in rejecting claims regarding the use of paracetamol in pregnancy."

The Danger of Trump's Claims

Medical Risks to Pregnant Women

Healthcare professionals are deeply concerned about the real-world consequences of Trump's statements:

Limited pain relief options: Paracetamol is often the only safe option for pregnant women, as:

• Aspirin increases bleeding risk and can cause birth defects

• Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can reduce amniotic fluid and harm foetal development

• Most other painkillers are contraindicated during pregnancy

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Fever risks: Untreated fever during pregnancy can cause:

• Miscarriage

• Birth defects

• Premature birth

• Neural tube defects

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Professional confusion: As Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists noted, "Even for physicians, it puts us in a very difficult predicament. Our professional societies and the science tells us that Tylenol is safe, but when you have the FDA saying something different, it puts us in a very, very difficult position."

The Cuba and Amish Claims

Trump's assertions about Cuba and Amish communities having "no autism" are factually incorrect:

Cuba: Multiple studies have documented autism cases in Cuba. The country has autism services and research programs. Trump's claim appears based on unsubstantiated rumors rather than epidemiological data.

Amish communities: Research has clearly documented autism among Amish populations. A 2010 study found autism rates in Amish communities comparable to the general population when accounting for diagnostic practices and healthcare access.

These false claims reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of global autism prevalence and diagnostic practices.

Understanding Autism's Real Causes

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with multiple contributing factors:

Genetic factors: Studies show autism is highly heritable, with genetic factors accounting for 70-90% of autism risk.

Advanced parental age: Both maternal and paternal age at conception correlate with increased autism risk.

Prenatal factors: Certain infections, medications (like valproic acid), and complications during pregnancy may increase risk.

Environmental factors: Some prenatal exposures may play a role, but acetaminophen is not among the established risk factors.

Diagnostic improvements: Much of the apparent "increase" in autism reflects better recognition, expanded diagnostic criteria, and reduced stigma around seeking evaluation.

The Political Context

It's important to recognize that Trump's claims don't exist in a scientific vacuum. They align with broader anti-vaccine and alternative health narratives that have been thoroughly debunked:

RFK Jr.'s influence: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long history of promoting discredited vaccine-autism theories, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Pattern of science denial: This announcement follows a pattern of rejecting established scientific consensus in favour of unsupported theories.

Policy implications: Using federal health agencies to promote unproven theories undermines public trust in evidence-based medicine.

What the Medical Community Recommends

For pregnant women experiencing pain or fever:

• Consult with your GP or midwife about the safest treatment options

• Paracetamol remains the recommended first-line treatment for pain and fever during pregnancy

• Don't stop taking prescribed medications without medical consultation

• Consider non-pharmacological approaches when appropriate and effective

For parents concerned about autism:

• Focus on evidence-based risk factors and early intervention

• Remember that autism is a neurodevelopmental difference, not a disease to be "cured"

• Seek information from reputable medical sources, not political figures

Conclusion

President Trump's claims about paracetamol causing autism are not supported by the best available scientific evidence. The largest and most methodologically sound study to date found no causal relationship between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism risk.

Meanwhile, Trump's recommendations could put pregnant women and their babies at genuine risk by discouraging use of the safest available painkiller during pregnancy. His false claims about autism-free populations in Cuba and Amish communities further undermine the credibility of his position.

Healthcare decisions should be based on rigorous scientific evidence and made in consultation with qualified medical professionals - not political pronouncements that contradict decades of research and global medical consensus.

The autism community deserves better than having their condition weaponized for political purposes. Families dealing with autism need evidence-based support and services, not fear-mongering that stigmatizes their children and spreads medical misinformation.