Washington, Sept 22, 2025: In a dramatic White House announcement, President Donald Trump warned pregnant women against using Tylenol and raised new doubts about routine childhood vaccines. Standing alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump said the popular pain reliever — known generically as acetaminophen (pronounced uh-SEE-tuh-MEE-nuh-fen) — may be linked to autism in children.
But here’s the catch: scientists, doctors, and Tylenol’s maker Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE, a spinoff from Johnson & Johnson, JNJ) say decades of research show no causal link.
What Trump Said about Autism & Tylenol?
“Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it,” Trump said, adding that parents should avoid letting doctors “pump your baby up with the largest pile of stuff” when it comes to vaccines.
- Trump also pushed splitting the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) into three separate shots.
- He questioned giving the Hepatitis B vaccine to newborns in the first 24 hours of life.
- And, in an unusual twist, he promoted leucovorin (a form of folinic acid, often used in cancer care) as a potential treatment for autism symptoms.
What Science Actually Shows on Tylenol
- No proven link: A 2024 Swedish study of 2.5 million children found no causal connection between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism.
- Mixed signals: A 2025 review of 46 studies suggested there might be associations, but experts say that does not prove causation.
- Medical advice remains the same: Groups like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists still consider acetaminophen the safest pain/fever medicine during pregnancy — when used at the lowest dose, for the shortest time.
Expert Reactions on Trump Tylenol debate
- Coalition of Autism Scientists: “The data cited do not support the claim that Tylenol causes autism.”
- Kenvue: “We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers and parents.”
- UK Health Regulator: Paracetamol (the same drug outside the U.S.) is safe and there is no autism evidence.
Autism researcher Dr. Diana Schendel said the Tylenol–autism question has been studied for years: “Without showing new evidence, these announcements become reckless and potentially harmful.”
Market Impact
- Kenvue stock (KVUE) plunged over 7% after Trump’s remarks but recovered 5% in late trading.
- Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), the former parent company, also saw minor volatility.
- Analysts say the absence of new science means the stock should stabilize, though lawsuits over Tylenol and autism claims could continue.
Why This Matters
- Pregnant women are confused: The president’s advice contradicts official medical guidance.
- Vaccine fears resurface: Trump and RFK Jr.’s comments revived the long-debunked theory linking vaccines to autism — a claim rejected by decades of global research.
- Autism advocacy groups worry the announcement fuels fear while giving false hope about treatments like leucovorin.
Trump’s announcement has once again pushed controversial, unproven medical claims into the spotlight. While Tylenol lawsuits and studies keep the debate alive, the scientific consensus is clear: acetaminophen does not cause autism and vaccines remain safe, saving millions of lives.
👉 Expect the FDA to review Tylenol labels and the debate to continue — but for now, experts urge pregnant women to follow their doctor’s advice, not political speeches.
Read Checkout this post: Tylenol, Autism & Trump: Panic, Stocks, and a New Wave of Questions
Read more at: Todaybeat.com