On Monday, September 22, 2025, President Donald Trump ignited a heated national debate when he publicly linked the use of acetaminophen—commonly known as Tylenol—during pregnancy to an increased risk of autism in children. Standing at the White House alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump urged pregnant women to "bear the pain" and avoid Tylenol unless absolutely necessary, claiming, "Taking Tylenol isn’t helpful. Don’t use it. Don’t use." According to CNN, these remarks were part of a broader press conference focused on autism, but the fallout was immediate and intense, rippling through medical offices and living rooms across the country.
Trump’s comments, as reported by Slate and The New York Times, were not isolated. They fit into a larger pattern of skepticism about mainstream medical advice and vaccines that has characterized much of his public health messaging. The president’s remarks at the press conference were described by Politico as a "diatribe against Tylenol," and they quickly drew sharp responses from leading medical experts and organizations.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released a statement on the same day, flatly rejecting Trump’s assertions. According to Yahoo, the organization said, “Not a single reputable study has concluded that acetaminophen causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children.” ACOG went further, calling such claims "irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients." The group emphasized the importance of treating fever and pain during pregnancy, noting, “The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks and can create severe morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and the fetus.”
Doctors around the country echoed these concerns. Dr. Eli Reshef, a reproductive endocrinologist, told Yahoo that the evidence showing fever during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage and birth defects—such as spina bifida, heart defects, and cleft lip and palate—is much stronger than any evidence linking Tylenol to autism. Ob-gyn Dr. Thomas Dardarian added that Tylenol is “one of the most widely studied drugs in pregnancy,” and that taking the lowest recommended dose for the shortest necessary duration “is considered safe in pregnancy.”
Despite the medical consensus, Trump’s comments had a tangible impact on patient behavior. Dr. Edith Brache-Sanchez, a general pediatrician and assistant professor at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, described to CNN how families in her practice became more cautious overnight. Some parents, previously confident in vaccination and standard medical advice, began questioning whether to split up vaccine doses or delay them altogether. Others sought more frequent consultations, anxious to navigate the conflicting messages from political leaders and medical authorities.
At the heart of the matter is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) official stance. On the same day as Trump’s press conference, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary released an open letter to physicians, noting that while some studies have described an association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, “a causal relationship has not been established.” As CBS News reported, Makary’s letter was far more measured than Trump’s, emphasizing that acetaminophen “is the safest over-the-counter alternative in pregnancy among all analgesics and antipyretics.”
Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, appeared on CBS News to clarify the administration’s position, stating, “The Trump administration is not advising pregnant women to avoid taking Tylenol under any circumstances.” Oz explained that if a pregnant woman develops a high fever, doctors will likely encourage her to take acetaminophen, as studies show it is the safest option for treating fever in pregnancy. He stressed, “The best prudent answer, of course, [is to] take it if a doctor says you need it. But don’t take it on your own without thinking twice about it.”
Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of ACOG, reinforced this message, telling CBS News, “You should not, under any circumstances, avoid taking acetaminophen if you have a fever early in pregnancy, if you have a headache, if you have some other condition in pregnancy, we want you to take that medication.” Fleischman added, “The overwhelming evidence that we have seen over the last 20 years does not show causation for acetaminophen causing autism.”
Even Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, weighed in, stating, “Independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism,” and calling it “the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy.”
The FDA’s cautionary note, however, has not gone unnoticed. According to CBS News, there is concern among the medical community that some patients, frightened by the president’s remarks and the FDA’s announcement, might turn to other pain medications—such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve)—which are known to be unsafe during pregnancy and can impact fetal development. As Dr. Dardarian told Yahoo, “There are other measures to reduce fever, such as taking a cold shower or using cold compresses, but Tylenol remains the recommended option when medication is necessary.”
The controversy also touched on broader issues of trust in science and public health. As Slate’s Political Gabfest discussed, Trump’s attack on Tylenol was seen by some as part of a larger trend of using government authority to promote unproven or controversial theories, often at odds with established scientific consensus. The echoes of past "Red Scare" tactics, where fear and suspicion undermined public confidence, were not lost on historians and commentators alike.
Adding another layer, Dr. Oz addressed the FDA’s simultaneous move to approve leucovorin, a prescription drug derived from folic acid, for treating some cases of autism in children. While specialists acknowledge leucovorin’s potential in certain situations, it is not a universal remedy, and Oz was careful to note that the evidence is still emerging. “These are things that we believe, that if you’re fully transparent about, you’ll rebuild trust with the American people. Just tell people what you know,” Oz remarked on CBS News.
Ultimately, the debate over Tylenol and pregnancy has become a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle between political rhetoric and scientific evidence. As Dr. Brache-Sanchez observed, the situation has made families “more attentive to advice, seek reliable sources, and discuss with doctors the best options for the child’s health.” The medical community, for its part, continues to emphasize the importance of clear communication and balanced explanations of risks and benefits, especially in an era where public trust can be so easily shaken.
For now, the consensus among leading physicians and organizations remains unchanged: acetaminophen, when used prudently and under medical supervision, is the safest option for treating pain and fever during pregnancy. The real danger, they warn, lies not in the medicine itself, but in the confusion and fear that can arise when political statements outpace scientific facts.
