It was a scene that might have seemed surreal just a few years ago: on October 9, 2025, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doubled down on a controversial and unproven claim linking the common pain reliever Tylenol to autism—this time suggesting the connection extends to infant circumcision. The remarks, made during a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump, quickly sparked a storm of criticism from medical experts, researchers, and the public alike.
According to The Associated Press, Kennedy stated, “Anybody who takes the stuff during pregnancy unless they have to is, is irresponsible. It is not proof. We’re doing the studies to make the proof.” He referenced a TikTok video he’d seen earlier that day, featuring a pregnant woman “gobbling Tylenol” and cursing Trump. Kennedy went on to claim, “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.”
But the scientific community was quick to push back. The main study Kennedy seemed to reference was a 2015 Danish paper published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, which did find that boys circumcised before age 10 were more likely to be diagnosed with autism compared to their non-circumcised peers. However, as AFP and The Associated Press both noted, the study’s authors themselves cautioned that their work only showed correlation, not causation, and lacked information on whether Tylenol or other painkillers were actually administered during or after the procedure.
Critics also highlighted that the study had significant limitations. As David Mandell, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania, told AFP, the research “relied on a tiny sample of Muslim boys circumcised in hospitals rather than at home—the dominant cultural practice. Because those children were hospitalized, it was likely they were otherwise medically compromised, which could explain higher rates of neurodevelopmental disorders.” Mandell added, “A more recent review of studies in this area finds no association between circumcision and any adverse psychological effects.”
Medical experts have also repeatedly stated that Tylenol (acetaminophen) has been used safely for over 70 years. Helen Tager-Flusberg, a Boston University autism expert, told AFP, “None of the studies have shown that giving Tylenol to babies is linked to a higher risk for autism once you can control for all the confounding variables.” In fact, a 2024 analysis published in JAMA using siblings as controls found no link between acetaminophen use and autism—a result widely cited by mainstream medical associations.
Despite the lack of evidence, Kennedy’s claims found a receptive audience in President Trump. Just two weeks earlier, Trump had publicly declared that acetaminophen is “not good” for pregnant women unless they have a high fever, warning it could increase the baby’s risk of developing autism. “Just don’t take it. You have to tough it through sometimes. I’m addressing it as best I can as a non-doctor, but I’m a man of common sense,” Trump said during the Cabinet meeting, according to The New York Post. He also announced that the Food and Drug Administration would begin notifying doctors that acetaminophen “can be associated” with an increased risk of autism, though he did not provide new medical evidence for this recommendation.
For many in the medical community, these statements were not just surprising—they were alarming. The over-the-counter medication is used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever, and is considered safe for use during pregnancy when taken as directed. Pregnant women are advised by medical associations to take pain medication, including acetaminophen, in moderation when needed, contrary to Trump’s advice to “tough it out.”
Adding to the controversy, Kennedy also made a basic anatomical error during the meeting, claiming a pregnant woman was taking Tylenol “with a baby in her placenta.” In reality, as The Associated Press clarified, a fetus develops in the uterus, not the placenta—the placenta is a temporary organ that provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus during pregnancy.
On the circumcision front, Kennedy’s assertions were met with skepticism from both medical professionals and religious practitioners. Rabbi Nechemia Markovits, a Brooklyn-based mohel who has performed circumcisions for nearly 40 years, told The New York Post, “The procedure is quick and well-tolerated. I place a light gauze with Vaseline to protect the area, and if there’s any mild discomfort, parents can use a gentle topical spray on the first day… I’ve never had newborns use Tylenol.” For older children, Markovits said, a proper dose of Tylenol can ease short-term soreness, but for infants, he insists, “My focus is simply on providing safe, comfortable, and natural healing for each patient.”
Some critics of the 2015 Danish study argued that the researchers failed to account for other painful conditions common in young children, such as urinary tract infections, which could also confound the results. Others suggested that circumcised boys might simply have more frequent interactions with healthcare professionals, leading to higher detection rates of autism rather than a true increase in risk.
Interestingly, a smaller 2024 study from Ireland found that circumcised boys with autism “exhibited significant improvements” in irritability, sensory issues, and repetitive behavior compared to their non-circumcised peers. The researchers also reported that urinary symptoms such as pain, urgency, and the need to go at night were “significantly reduced.” However, this study did not support the notion that circumcision or Tylenol use causes autism; if anything, it further complicated the picture.
Social media reaction to Kennedy’s remarks was swift and, in many cases, scathing. As reported by The New York Post, the “Republicans against Trump” account on X simply replied, “Wut.” Liberal influencer Joanne Carducci, known as JoJofromJerz, dismissed Kennedy’s suggestion with an expletive-laden tweet. Another popular account, Spiro’s Ghost, exclaimed, “WHAT THE F---!!!!!!” The backlash reflected a broad skepticism among both medical professionals and the public regarding the administration’s embrace of these fringe theories.
Autism diagnosis rates have indeed risen dramatically in recent decades—by 400% since 2000, according to figures cited by The New York Post, with 1 in 31 American children now affected. However, mainstream researchers attribute this increase to better awareness, improved diagnostic criteria, and changes in reporting practices, not to Tylenol use or circumcision.
As the controversy continues, one thing is clear: the debate over the causes of autism remains deeply contentious, and the need for rigorous, evidence-based science in public health policy has never been more urgent.
