Topline
The Trump administration is preparing to link Tylenol use during pregnancy with increased risk for children developing autism—despite lacking definitive scientific evidence that’s true—according to multiple reports citing people familiar with the plans.
Trump administration officials will likely tie the use of acetaminophen—the active ingredient in Tylenol and other painkillers—during pregnancy to increased risk for autism, according to multiple reports.
The administration is also expected to announce that leucovorin, a folinic acid, might be effective at treating autism in children, the Washington Post reported.
Leucovorin is typically used to mitigate the side effects from certain cancer drugs, according to the Mayo Clinic, and is also used to treat some types of anemia and alongside other drugs for colon cancer.
While speaking at the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on a Utah college campus earlier this month, Trump said Monday’s announcement would be “one of the biggest announcements, medically, I think, in the history of our country,” later adding, “I think we found an answer to autism.”
When asked directly by reporters after the speech if the administration planned to link Tylenol to increased risk for autism, Trump said “well, you're going to see tomorrow, we're going to do it tomorrow, but I think it's a very big factor.”
Trump is scheduled to make the announcement on “Significant Medical and Scientific Findings for America's Children” in the Oval Office at 4 p.m. EST.
Tylenol is owned by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, which is a subsidiary of healthcare company Kenvue. “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism,” said Melissa Witt, a spokesperson for Kenvue. “We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.” Kenvue’s share price fell after markets opened on Monday morning, dropping 5.6% by 12:25 p.m.
Some past studies have raised concerns about a link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, CNN reported in 2021, but a much more recent study published in 2024 found no risk associated with the drug. The study, which looked at 2.4 million children in Sweden born between 1995 and 2019, found the drug was not associated with risk for “autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability.” In the past, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said acetaminophen was “one of the only safe pain relievers for pregnant individuals during pregnancy.” According to the group, studies published so far “show no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during any trimester and fetal developmental issues.” Forbes has reached out to the college for further comment on the Trump administration’s reported announcement. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine also noted the existing studies did not establish a causal link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism. On the other hand, fevers and pain during pregnancy could lead to serious health problems. “Untreated fever, particularly in the first trimester, increases the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth, and untreated pain can lead to maternal depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure,” the society said in a statement earlier in September.
Autism diagnoses have steadily increased over the past two decades, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. In 2022, the agency found one in 31 children aged eight (born in 2014) were identified with autism spectrum disorder, or roughly 32 children for every 1,000 children born. However, experts attribute this rise in part due to broadening the definition of what diagnostic criteria fall under the “autism spectrum” over the past few decades. Better screening and diagnostic tools have also likely contributed to this rapid increase, according to a review in the National Library of Medicine. Months after taking the reins of the Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced a “massive testing and research effort” into identifying the causes of autism. Kennedy has a long history of pushing conspiracy theories and debunked research, including the now-discredited link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and childhood autism. The Lancet retracted the 1998 study that claimed to identify the link between the vaccine and autism, and its author has since lost his medical license. News of the Trump administration’s plans for Tylenol were first reported by the Wall Street Journal earlier this month.