Hoax – The use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy causes autism, as alleged by Donald Trump.
Analysis
A post by former American president Donald Trump, made in September 2025, reignited a debate that has long circulated in misinformation channels: the alleged link between the use of acetaminophen (Tylenol’s active ingredient) during gestation and the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children.
At the time, the message quickly went viral, capitalizing on the legitimate concern about the statistical increase in autism cases and mixing this information with an alarming warning about a medication that is one of the most used by pregnant women worldwide for pain and fever relief. Read one of the versions circulating online:
TRUMP GOVERNMENT ALERT The use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) in pregnancy may increase the risk of autism. The numbers are alarming: A few decades ago: 1 in 20,000 children. Later: 1 in 10,000. Today: 1 in 31 children — in some places, even worse. Among boys: it can reach 1 in 12. The FDA has already issued a warning: pregnant women should not use acetaminophen, unless strictly necessary. Trump claims that the explosion in autism cases is one of the greatest public health alerts in history.
Fact Check
Despite the sharing by a figure like the former US president, the story that points to acetaminophen as a cause of autism is, in fact, a piece of misinformation. To verify the veracity of the allegation that gained strength after Donald Trump’s post, we sought to answer three central questions: 1) Did Trump say that Tylenol (acetaminophen) taken by pregnant women causes autism in children? 2) Does Tylenol (acetaminophen) taken by pregnant women cause autism in children? 3) And is it possible that this link will be discovered in the future?
This narrative fits a growing pattern of misinformation that seeks to undermine public trust in widely accepted medications and health regulatory agencies. While acetaminophen is, indeed, frequently studied in relation to its effects in pregnancy – as is the case with practically all medications – it is crucial to verify whether the claim of direct causality, as presented, has any foundation in robust scientific evidence or if it has already been officially debunked by global health authorities.
Did Trump say that Tylenol (acetaminophen) taken by pregnant women causes autism in children?
Yes, former president Donald Trump made a post in September 2025, on the Truth Social platform, where he warned against the use of Tylenol/acetaminophen by pregnant women. Although the publication did not explicitly use the term “causes,” it made a direct link between the use of the medication and the significant increase in autism cases (which constitutes the central allegation of the hoax). He said the following:
Pregnant women, DO NOT USE TYLENOL UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, DO NOT GIVE TYLENOL TO YOUR YOUNG CHILDREN FOR ANY REASON, SPLIT THE TRIPLE VACCINE INTO THREE TOTALLY SEPARATE ONES (DO NOT MIX!), TAKE THE CHICKEN P VACCINE (against chickenpox) SEPARATELY, TAKE THE HEPATITIS B VACCINE AT 12 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND, IMPORTANTLY, TAKE THE VACCINE IN 5 SEPARATE DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENTS! President DJT
Does Tylenol (acetaminophen) taken by pregnant women cause autism in children?
Objectively speaking, the claim that acetaminophen taken during pregnancy “causes autism” is false. There is, so far, no scientific evidence that establishes a causal relationship between the medication and the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Regulatory agencies and health organizations in various parts of the world, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and national Ministries of Health, have already publicly debunked this claim.
Is it possible that the link in question will be discovered in the future?
Although observational studies on the subject are still underway – as is the case with any widely used medication – the position of the major medical authorities and regulatory agencies, such as the EMA (European Medicines Agency), is that current evidence is insufficient for any change in use recommendations.
The current guidance, from the FDA as well as from European and other national agencies, is not based on autism risk, but on a general precaution: pregnant women should use the medication at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest possible time, always under medical guidance, in line with the golden rule for the use of any medication during pregnancy. There are no indications that science will establish a causal relationship in the near future.
Conclusion
The claim that Tylenol (acetaminophen) taken by pregnant women “causes autism” in babies is misinformation. Despite former president Donald Trump having raised this issue on his social media, the statement has no scientific basis and has been categorically debunked by international organizations and health regulatory agencies in various countries.
The recommendation for pregnant women remains to use acetaminophen (or any medication) only when strictly necessary, at the lowest dose and for the shortest time, always with medical supervision, as a standard precaution and not due to the risk of autism.
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