President Donald Trump has urged pregnant women to avoid taking Tylenol, pointing out an unproven statement that links the analgesic with autism.
Speaking from the Oval office with the Secretary of Health Robert F Kennedy JR, Trump said that acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, also known as Paracetamol in most parts of the world, was “not good” and should only be used in pregnancy when there is a high fever.
He then described the steps that his administration would take to restrict the use of drugs during pregnancy, in comments mixed with unseeded claims and, in some cases, false.
This is what he said, and what the facts say, about drugs, autism and if Cuba, as Trump said in a moment, has no autism.
What did Trump announce?
Trump opened the event by calling autism a “horrible and horrible crisis.”
“The meteoric increase in autism is among the most alarming public health developments in history. There has never been something like that,” Trump said, despite the fact that experts point out that autism data only captures an increase in diagnoses, not necessarily an increase in the incidence of autism itself.
Trump then presented the plans of his administration to address the “crisis.”
“First, immediately, the FDA will notify doctors that the use of A – Well, let's see how we say that acetaminophen – is okay? What is basically commonly known as Tylenol during pregnancy, can be associated with a higher risk of autism,” he said.
Then he warned that the use of Tylenol during pregnancy should be avoided unless it is absolutely necessary.
“So, taking Tylenol is not good. Very well. I will say it. It is not good. For this reason, they recommend that women limit the use of Tylenol during pregnancy unless it is medically necessary. That is, for example, in cases of extremely high fever, which feels that it cannot resist it. I cannot do it. I suppose there is that.”
Trump then changed to his broader concerns about vaccines, arguing against combined shots, such as the MMR vaccine against measles, papers and rubella, despite the fact that it has been shown that they are safe in multiple rounds of investigation.
He also questioned giving newborns the hepatitis B vaccine.
“Hepatitis B is transmitted sexually. There is no reason to give a baby almost only born, hepatitis B. Then, I would say that it waits until the baby is 12 years old and forms and takes hepatitis B.”
Finally, Trump repeated an affirmation that countries without Tylenol, such as Cuba, have little or no autism, frame him as evidence.
“I mean, there is a rumor, and I don't know if it's so or not, that Cuba, they don't have tylenol because they don't have money for Tylenol. And they practically have no autism, ok. Tell me about that.”
President Donald J. Trump, @Seckennedy, @Drozcms, @Nihdirector_jayAND @Drmakaryfda Announce the Autism Action Plan.
Make the United States again healthy. pic.twitter.com/1ineviecyu
– The White House (@WhiteBouse) September 22, 2025
As with Trump's other claims in the event, his statement about Cuba does not resist scrutiny, as we will arrive a little.
But first …
What is autism?
Autism, or autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), is a development condition that experiences people in many different ways. In the United States, it is recognized as a form of neurodivergencia and disability under the Law of Americans with disabilities. According to centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), autism can shape the way someone communicates, learns and interacts with the world, often in ways that are simply different from most people.
Children diagnosed with autism can also have difficulties with social, emotional and communication skills. This can become traits that can affect interaction with others and learning difficulty.
What causes autism?
Autism has been linked to a complex combination of genetic and development factors, and looks different for each individual. Scientists have identified hundreds of genes that can play a role, whether transmitted to parents or appearing as new mutations during early brain development.
According to the National Institute of US Environmental Health Sciences, certain environmental influences may increase the risk of autism, including:
- Age of advanced parents
- Prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides
- Maternal obesity, diabetes or immune system disorders
- Extreme premature or very low birth weight
- Birth complications lead to periods of oxygen deprivation to the baby's brain.
Is autism increasing in the United States?
At first glance, that is what the numbers would suggest.
The CDC figures show that in 2022, 1 in 31 eight -year -old children were identified with autism in the US, compared to 1 in 149 in 2000.
According to CDC, the condition is also approximately three times more common in boys than in girls.
Worldwide, estimates vary. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2021 that approximately 1 in 127 people worldwide lived with autism. Similarly, a 2022 review of 71 studies found an average prevalence of approximately 1 percent.
These numbers have been summoned by some, such as supporters of the Secretary of Health of the United States, Robert F Kennedy JR, to argue that the United States faces a particularly acute challenge with autism and have been used to justify repressions in drugs such as Tylenol.
But experts warn that the data may not necessarily agree with these statements and the measures that the Trump administration is taking.
Why are the numbers uploading?
First, experts say, comparing autism rates in all countries is problematic due to differences in diagnostic practices, awareness and access to medical care, all of which affects the way in which prevalence is measured and reports.
The increase in numbers in the United States, they point out, only demonstrate a strong increase in diagnoses, not necessarily an increase in the incidence of autism itself.
According to experts, there are two main factors behind the increase in autism diagnoses. First, the definition of autism has expanded as scientists have recognized their broad spectrum of features and symptoms. This has led to updated diagnostic criteria and better detection tools.
At the same time, growing consciousness has meant that more parents seek evaluations.
What about acetaminophen?
Acetaminophen (also known as Paracetamol) is one of the most used free -used free -sales fever and reducers.
For more than a decade, researchers have studied whether the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is related to developmental disorders. The results have been mixed: some studies reported associations with autism, while a 2025 Mount Sinai review suggested evidence of broader neurological development risks.
But the association is not the same as causality. The largest and rigorous study to date, published in 2024, found no link between the use of prenatal acetaminophen and autism, ADHD or other learning or development disorders. Experts point out that better quality studies so far show evidence of acetaminophen damage.
According to the Autism Science Foundation, the statements of a connection remain “limited, conflicting and inconsistent.”
“The great revelation about autism was a total bust full of erroneous information,” Arthur L Caplan, American ethics and bioethics professor at the Nyu Grossman Medicine School, told Al Jazeera.
“There is no data to show that Tylenol causes autism and many data to show that fever in pregnant women harms the fetus,” he added.
To be sure, even without a link with Tylenol's e-autism, most doctors “will probably tell pregnant women that they should always be careful with medications,” said Catherine Lord, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA who specializes in autism, he told Al Jazeera.
But those doctors probably also warn women who do not avoid taking medications when they have fever during pregnancy, he said. “They must also realize that having a high fever or having pain is not good for a growing baby, so they should consult their doctor,” he added.
Has other claims about what causes autism?
Over the years, autism has erroneously related to many supposed causes. The most notorious was the false link of the ealism vaccine of a 1998 study, now completely discredited. That study claimed an association between the MMR vaccine, the same that Trump attacked on Monday, and autism. The Lancet, the very respected British magazine published that study, withdrew it 12 years later, in 2010.
Other factors debated include prenatal or antidepressant medications, environmental toxins and diet, but evidence is weak or inconsistent. Previously, the discredited theory of the “mother of the refrigerator” blamed the parents who perceived that they lacked adequate emotional warmth with their children for greater risks of autism.
And finally, is it true, as Trump states, that autism does not exist in Cuba?
It is false, and in any case, Cuba undermines Trump's argument.
Cuba officially recognizes autistic spectrum disorder (TEA). There are multiple specialized schools and pediatric clinics that provide diagnosis and therapy for children with autism.
In Cuba, acetaminophen is generally known as paracetamol and is sold in government pharmacies. In other words, it is very available and is used as in other parts of the world.
According to a study of 2022, Cuba had an incidence of autism of approximately 2 to 4 per 10,000 children in some environments. Although research on autism diagnoses in Cuba is much more limited than in the US, the data of the study 2022 show a much lower rate of recognized cases than in the US. UU., Despite the presence of acetaminophen.
