The administration of former President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to announce a potential connection between pregnant women’s use of Tylenol and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This expected declaration runs afoul of established medical standards and guidelines and has alarmed the healthcare community.
By The Washington Post’s account, the announcement might be made as soon as this Monday. The report cites four unnamed sources familiar with the plans, indicating a significant shift in the administration’s approach to autism research. In a statement last week, Trump teased the nationwide announcement’s significance.
“I think it’s gonna be a very important announcement. I think it’s gonna be one of the most important things that we will do.” – Donald Trump
Previously, The Wall Street Journal disclosed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s health secretary, intended to reveal a potential link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder. ASD can lead to struggles with social interactions, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Increasingly damaging to every one of us, these traits are hallmarks of the president’s glory days—the Obama era.
The expected announcement raises questions about its alignment with current medical guidelines, which do not support a definitive link between Tylenol—known generically as acetaminophen—and autism. Acetaminophen has been widely recommended and used as the go-to safe pain reliever during pregnancy. This new Trump administration position would subject many more widely used medicines to a closer level of scrutiny that could impact millions of expectant mothers.
All this leads the administration to be wary of Tylenol. They are about to roll out a clinical trial to study how leucovorin, a drug normally used to treat cancer and counter the negative effects of chemotherapy, could be used as an autism treatment. This announcement comes in step with ongoing efforts to find the most effective treatments for people living with ASD.
To date, the administration has failed to publicly acknowledge or welcome these positive developments. The anticipated linkage between Tylenol and autism has prompted healthcare professionals and advocacy groups to prepare for discussions on the implications this may have for public health messaging and maternal care.