Fact-checking Trump's Claims on Autism and Tylenol

Mon Sep 29 2025 03:15:01 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An analysis of recent statements made by President Trump regarding autism rates and potential links to the painkiller Tylenol, which have drawn criticism from health experts.

President Trump recently claimed a connection between the painkiller Tylenol and autism, leading to significant backlash from health professionals. While some autism diagnosis statistics he presented were accurate, the claims regarding links to Tylenol and vaccine safety are disputed and lack scientific backing, prompting concerns over misinformation and public health.

US President Donald Trump has drawn significant criticism from health experts after suggesting a link between the common painkiller Tylenol (known as paracetamol in some countries) and autism. During a press conference held alongside Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, Trump indicated that doctors would be advised against recommending Tylenol to pregnant women, raising alarms among medical professionals.

Organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have labeled Trump's claims as 'unsettling' and not backed by reliable evidence. The UK's National Autism Society further condemned them as 'dangerous' and 'anti-science.'

During the conference, Trump asserted that autism diagnoses in the US have surged from approximately one in 10,000 cases 18 years ago to a predicted one in 31 by 2025. While his claim regarding the current figure of one in 31 aligns with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), experts argue the term has been misrepresented. The CDC's data shows that rates of autism have notably increased since the early 2000s but not at the exponential rate Trump suggests.

In addressing the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, Trump stated that vaccinations should be administered separately rather than as a combined shot, implying potential dangers in mixing doses. This claim has raised concerns that his rhetoric might lead parents to avoid vaccinations, risking the resurgence of diseases previously under control.

Health authorities, including the CDC, maintain that there is no credible evidence linking the MMR vaccine to autism. Numerous studies have discredited this idea, including a 2019 study from Denmark that involved over 650,000 children.

Additionally, Trump mentioned that the Amish community has 'virtually no autism,' suggesting that their limited use of Tylenol may contribute to this trend. However, research into autism prevalence among the Amish is limited and inconclusive.

Trump’s past statements about vaccine safety date back nearly 20 years, and while he has sometimes supported vaccination campaigns, his recent comments reflect ongoing uncertainty regarding public health messaging. This controversy underscores the urgent necessity for clear and reliable information surrounding vaccinations and autism.