By Rachel Haynes, Staff Writer
On September 22, President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S Health and Human Services (HHS), released bold claims linking acetaminophen as a possible cause of autism.
“The meteoric rise in autism is among the most alarming public health developments in history. One in 31 overall. So since 2000, autism rates have surged much more than 400%,” states Trump.
This is an alarming statistic that has many Americans worried. This rise in diagnoses has been referred to as the “autism epidemic” by RFK Jr. in April of this year. The cause of this “epidemic” may be linked to using acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, during pregnancy. In his statement, Trump urges that pregnant women only take Tylenol when absolutely necessary, as it may increase the chances that their child will be autistic. RFK Jr. does clarify that it is just a theory, reporting that “NIH research teams are currently testing multiple hypotheses with no area off-limits. We promise transparency as we uncover the potential causes and treatments, and we will notify the public regularly of our progress”, advising caution rather than a full eradication of its usage during pregnancy.
The first steps the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking toward their cause is notifying the FDA, who will then make label changes accordingly. The next plan of action is to launch a nationwide campaign informing and protecting people. They are also advising doctors to prescribe the lowest dosage for only the amount of time necessary for women experiencing intense pain throughout pregnancy.
It is, however, important to note that the autism spectrum has broadened very much in the past few years. John Hopkins University, a well renowned and credible medical source, came out with an article listing reasons as to why there seems to be an “autism epidemic.” The two main causes of this rise is the broadening of the autism spectrum and the openings of many public health programs that look for signs of autism. This may offer a different explanation as to why the rates have gone up so much in recent years, rather than just the correlation of consuming Tylenol during pregnancy.
Many other reliable sources are countering the claims made by Trump and RFK Jr. PBS published an article in response to the President and Secretary of Health to the claims. Their argument is similar to John Hopkins, stating that the spectrum has expanded and more are seeking out diagnoses. They include that autism is genetic and may show up due to recessive genes or mutations, and also reinforce the fact that vaccines are not in any way linked to autism. In the case of Tylenol, it states that “studies have raised the possibility that taking the over-the-counter pain medicine in pregnancy might be associated with a risk of autism, but many others haven’t found a connection.” The article also reminds the public that untreated fevers during first trimester pregnancies increase the chances of miscarriage and premature births, furthering the importance of Tylenol during pregnancy.
The HHS seems to be taking steps to lessen the use of Tylenol even more, which is odd because they are still currently doing the research. They still have not proved that there is a clear linkage yet. Then again, public officials would most likely not make such bold claims unless they have loads of evidence backing the statement. Tylenol has been a staple in homes since the 1960s, and it would be highly unpopular to make such claims, yet Kennedy decided to say them anyway. A logical conclusion might therefore be that solid and concrete research supporting his claim will be released.
So is Tylenol truly linked to autism? According to our current research, nothing can be said for certain. There is some evidence that there is a correlation, but many scientists discredit the studies currently being conducted. As time progresses and more research is done, the results will speak for themselves.
The following resources were cross-referenced for this article.
News, PBS. “Here’s What We Know about the Causes of Autism.” PBS News, 22 Sept. 2025, www.pbs.org/newshour/health/heres-what-we-know-about-the-causes-of-autism.
“Autism Link Press Conference RFK Jr Oz Trump | Rev.” Rev.com, 2025, www.rev.com/transcripts/autism-link-press-conference.
“Is There an Autism Epidemic? | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.” Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 6 June 2025, www.publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/is-there-an-autism-epidemic.