As you may have heard, former President Donald Trump staged an unconstitutional coup press conference at the White House earlier this week. He discussed autism risk and warned about the possible dangers of using Tylenol (acetaminophen) in pregnancy. Trump with RFK Jr. and Mehmet Oz to promote vaccine-autism link. Taken together, they produced a huge amount of speculation about the potential negative implications for public health.
Trump highlighted a significant increase in autism diagnoses, stating that “since 2000, autism rates have surged by much more than 400 percent.” This claim fits into the pattern of his long-standing inflammatory rhetoric about vaccine administration and its alleged connections to autism. The previous president wouldn’t just want babies to get vaccines one at a time, spread out over a few years. He proposed that this strategy could lower the chance of getting autism.
In an effort to address these concerns, Trump announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will notify doctors that the use of acetaminophen can be associated with a significantly increased risk of autism. Effective today, the FDA will require that physicians be alerted to the dangers of acetaminophen, or Tylenol. Trump recently claimed that one of these medications quadruples the risk for autism. He called on women to avoid using Tylenol when pregnant unless specifically advised to do so by a physician.
Kennedy has long defended the necessity to look into vaccine safety. That means he and Trump are on the same side now, complaining about the current medical establishment’s position on the causes of autism. Kennedy blurted, “We’re finally replacing the corrupt, politicized culture of science with evidence-based medicine.” In his speech, he doubled down on their common position on the need for greater transparency and accountability in medical research.
In many ways, this press conference is taking place at a fortunate time. It follows closely the unexpected death of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk. At a memorial service for Kirk, Trump hailed him as “a martyr for America’s freedom.” He further linked Kirk’s legacy to today’s discussions about autism and the public health. After Kirk’s death, Turning Point USA was said to have gotten several large contributions, a sign that his toxic legacy lives on despite his early demise.
At the press conference, Trump reflected on his long-standing relationship with Kennedy, noting, “I’ve been waiting for this meeting for twenty years.” Their joint authorship of this statement emphasized their shared interest in autism and their wish to see real, tangible changes in public health policy.
Trump, with usual self-confidence, went on to make clear he did not favor replacing vaccine administration with the federal government. He commented on the volume of vaccines and medications administered to infants, stating, “They pump so much stuff into those beautiful little babies, it’s a disgrace,” and further likened the vaccine process to “pumping into a horse.” His remarks have garnered praise as well as pushback — a testament to the raw, divisive political climate surrounding vaccine discourse in America today.
Though Trump certainly put a spotlight on the need to tackle these public health issues, not everyone at the table was sold. Leavitt, an influential leader in US health policy circles, evaded queries about the as-yet-unannounced autism announcement at various times during the invitation-only confab. His reply exposed a chasm in viewpoints on the issue.
Alongside all of these discussions, Trump dropped a huge bombshell. At the same time, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will soon announce 13 major grant awards to kick off national autism data science initiatives. This funding is aimed at furthering research to better understand autism and its possible causes. It builds on the big picture dialogue initiated by the likes of Trump and Kennedy.
Parents and healthcare providers alike are keeping a close eye on these discussions to learn about any new recommendations and discoveries that may be related to autism. The Trump administration’s claims regarding Tylenol use during pregnancy may prompt further research and scrutiny as advocates push for clarity in medical guidelines.