During an October 9, 2025, White House Cabinet meeting, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reignited controversy by asserting a possible connection between circumcision, Tylenol (acetaminophen) use, and autism risk in young boys. The claim, swiftly echoed and dissected across American media, has drawn sharp criticism from pediatricians and researchers, who warn that such statements fuel confusion and misinformation among parents already struggling to make informed decisions about their children's health.
According to multiple reports, including coverage from HuffPost, Nexstar Media Inc., and other outlets, Kennedy stated in the meeting, "There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It’s highly likely because they’re given Tylenol. Oh, you know, none of this is positive. but all of it is stuff that we should be paying attention to." President Trump, present at the meeting, reiterated his own belief that pregnant women and newborns should avoid acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, further amplifying the administration’s skepticism of the common pain reliever.
In the aftermath, Kennedy accused major news organizations such as the New York Post and USA Today of distorting his comments. "As usual, the mainstream media attacks me for something I didn’t say in order to distract from the truth of what I did say," Kennedy wrote on X, formerly Twitter. He cited a 2015 Danish study as supporting his position, though the nuances of that research—and its relevance to Tylenol in particular—have become a central point of contention.
The Danish study in question, led by Frisch et al., examined autism rates among boys born between 1994 and 2003. The researchers found that circumcised boys were 46 percent more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by age 10, with boys circumcised under age five appearing twice as likely as their uncircumcised peers to receive the diagnosis. However, as HuffPost and other sources note, the study explicitly stated it did not collect any data about what pain relievers, if any, the boys received after circumcision. "So we were unable to address the paracetamol hypothesis directly," the authors wrote, referring to acetaminophen by its international name.
Another study Kennedy may have referenced, published in 2013, attempted to correlate autism rates and acetaminophen use across countries by using circumcision rates as a proxy for Tylenol exposure. However, the authors of that study were clear about its limitations: "These data cannot provide strong evidence of causality," they wrote. The researchers could not confirm whether circumcised boys actually received acetaminophen, and they described their work as "hypothesis generating exploratory analysis."
Medical professionals have been quick to point out the dangers of drawing sweeping conclusions from such limited and indirect evidence. Dr. Mona Amin, a board-certified pediatrician in Florida, told HuffPost, "There’s no proof that circumcision or Tylenol causes autism." She continued, "We can’t make bombastic claims when they’re not supported by credible evidence. There’s no solid data behind what he’s saying." Dr. Lauren Hughes, another pediatrician, echoed these concerns: "There is no credible study saying there is double the risk of autism," she said, adding that the Danish study Kennedy cited did not even track Tylenol use and was based on small numbers.
Experts also emphasize that most autism cases are rooted in genetics, not environmental exposures like Tylenol or circumcision. "Research shows genetics play the biggest role—sometimes inherited from parents, sometimes through spontaneous gene changes that affect how the brain forms and communicates," Amin explained. Dr. Elizabeth Meade, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, reinforced this view: "It is very, very important to state that no one wants to find the causes for autism more than pediatric health care providers. I say ‘causes’ very intentionally, because we know this is not a one-cause diagnosis, it is very multifactorial and complex."
On the question of whether Tylenol is routinely given to babies during or after circumcision, the reality is more nuanced than Kennedy’s statements suggest. According to Amin, "In most hospitals, newborns are soothed with oral sucrose [sugar water] or other comfort measures during the procedure, not Tylenol." Both Texas Children’s Hospital and the University of Kansas Health System report using local anesthetic and sugar water, not acetaminophen, for pain relief during circumcision. When Tylenol is used, it is typically a single dose post-procedure, not a standard practice at every facility. "If parents give Tylenol afterward, it’s usually a single dose. We can’t blame a one-time or two-time medication for a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference like autism," Amin said.
Further muddying the waters, Kennedy cited an August 2025 pre-print review by Patel et al. to support his assertions. However, as Amin pointed out, "Kennedy’s post on X cites 2025 research that is pre-print, not peer-reviewed. The authors are real researchers, but the findings haven’t gone through independent scientific review yet." Most evidence cited is observational or animal-based, which cannot establish cause and effect. Dr. Hughes added, "The 2015 study also did not control for critical confounders like genetics, family history or prenatal history. These are all known risk factors for developing autism and should be adjusted for."
For parents, the deluge of conflicting claims can be overwhelming. "As a parent, I understand how confusing all this can feel. And as a clinician who walks families through these decisions every day, it’s frustrating to see misinformation replace genuine curiosity," Amin said. She and other experts urge families to rely on well-established medical guidance. The American Academy of Pediatrics maintains that acetaminophen is safe for children when used as directed and discussed with a pediatrician. "The benefit of using Tylenol when truly needed outweighs any unproven theoretical risk," Amin noted. Untreated fevers, for instance, can be more dangerous to a developing brain than a properly dosed pain reliever.
Large-scale research continues to find no link between acetaminophen and autism. A 2024 study reviewed by Hughes evaluated roughly 2.5 million children and found no association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders. "The use of acetaminophen in childhood has not been robustly studied, but no data exists showing a causal link," Hughes said.
As for circumcision itself, experts stress it remains a generally safe, elective procedure. Risks include bleeding, infection, and improper removal of skin, but there is no credible evidence linking circumcision or Tylenol use to autism. "Parents should be able to make this decision based on their values and medical guidance without judgment. It’s a personal choice, not a moral or medical obligation," Amin emphasized.
In Israel, where ritual circumcision is nearly universal, autism prevalence is about 1 in 88, while in the United States—where circumcision is less common—the rate is 1 in 36, according to respective health authorities. Jewish ritual circumcisions typically use wine for comfort, not Tylenol, further undermining the theory of a direct link.
Ultimately, the scientific community remains committed to unraveling the complexities of autism, but leading voices caution against letting speculation and political agendas overshadow rigorous research. "We should be investing our energy into research, education and support for autistic individuals, not fighting baseless claims," Amin concluded. For families navigating these decisions, the best course remains open dialogue with trusted medical professionals and a healthy skepticism of sensational headlines.
