Background and Announcement
On September 21, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that his administration had made a significant medical discovery regarding autism. He stated that they may have found a potential cause and treatment for autism. The announcement was made at a memorial service for Charlie Kirk, where Trump told tens of thousands of Americans, 'I think we've found an answer to autism – autism. How about that?' He further mentioned that the 'biggest announcement medically' in U.S. history would be made the following day.
Details of the Announcement
The next day, September 22, 2025, the Trump administration revealed that they are considering a link between the use of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism in children. The administration also suggested that leucovorin, a medication that mimics folic acid, could be a potential treatment for autism.
Research and Data
Recent studies published in August 2025 by researchers from Mount Sinai and Harvard suggested a possible association between acetaminophen use early in pregnancy and autism. These findings have prompted the administration to advise women to avoid using Tylenol unless necessary, such as to fight a fever.
Medical and Public Health Response
The announcement has garnered significant attention and response from medical professionals, regulatory agencies, and public health organizations.
Regulatory Agencies' Response
Officials from the European Union and the World Health Organization have confirmed that available evidence does not support a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. The European Medicines Agency stated that it has 'very strict control' over products in the European market and has not found any evidence linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy to autism.
Expert and Legislative Response
Senator Bill Cassidy, who leads the Senate's Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, has requested that the Health and Human Services (HHS) department release new data supporting the claim that acetaminophen could lead to an increased autism risk. He emphasized that the preponderance of evidence shows no such link and expressed concern that women might be left without options to manage pain during pregnancy.
Implications and Next Steps
The administration's announcement and suggested link between Tylenol use and autism risk have significant implications for public health and medical practice. The potential treatment, leucovorin, has been investigated in small clinical trials as a possible intervention for autism.
Ongoing Investigations
The HHS department, under the leadership of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has indicated that they will continue investigating the discredited theory of whether vaccines cause autism. This stance has been met with skepticism from the scientific community.
Public Guidance
President Trump has advised pregnant women to 'fight like hell' not to take Tylenol and suggested that parents should avoid giving the drug to young children. He also made statements about vaccination schedules and the hepatitis B vaccine, which have been widely criticized by medical experts.
Conclusion
The Trump administration's announcement regarding a potential link between Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism risk has sparked significant debate and concern. While some research suggests a possible association, other medical and regulatory bodies have found no evidence to support this claim. The implications of this announcement for public health, medical practice, and ongoing research remain to be seen.