Circumcision doubles the likelihood of developing autism, Robert F Kennedy Jr has claimed.

Young and baby boys who are circumcised are more at risk of developing the neurological disorder because they are likely given paracetamol to manage the pain, Mr Kennedy, the US health secretary, alleged.

Last month, Donald Trump gave a press conference alongside Mr Kennedy, proclaiming that taking paracetamol during pregnancy was a potential cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in young people.

“The FDA is responding to clinical and laboratory studies that suggest a potential association between acetaminophen [paracetamol] used during pregnancy and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, including later diagnosis for ADHD and autism,” Mr Kennedy claimed during the press conference.

Mr Trump said parents should not give their children the painkiller, before more broadly urging: “Ideally, you don’t take it at all.” Mr Trump urged pregnant women to “fight like hell” not to take the drug.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Mr Kennedy said: “There’s two studies which show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It’s highly likely because they were given Tylenol.”