Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference Monday, making controversial claims about autism, Tylenol, and childhood vaccines. The comments are today under fire from doctors, scientists, and health organizations who say the statements spread harmful misinformation.
During the event, Trump suggested that pregnant women taking Tylenol could be causing autism in their children. He also repeated long-discredited claims that vaccines, particularly when given close together, are linked to autism. Kennedy Jr., who has built a public reputation pushing vaccine skepticism, stood alongside Trump, supporting calls for changes to FDA recommendations.
The problem: medical experts say the science doesn’t back up these claims.
Tylenol and Autism:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is one of the most commonly used pain relievers in pregnancy. Some small studies have explored possible correlations with autism, but no credible research has established a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Public health experts warn that discouraging Tylenol without strong evidence could leave pregnant women without safe pain relief options.
Vaccines and Autism:
The claim that vaccines, including the hepatitis B vaccine given at birth, cause autism has been repeatedly studied and thoroughly disproven. Large-scale research across multiple countries shows no link between vaccines and autism. Pediatricians emphasize that vaccines are critical for preventing serious and potentially deadly illnesses in children.
Listening to Experts:
RFK Jr. is a lawyer, not a doctor or medical researcher. For years, he has promoted conspiracy theories about vaccines, environmental toxins, and public health agencies. Doctors stress that his claims often leave out context, cherry-pick weak data, or ignore decades of peer-reviewed research.
Medical professionals encourage families to talk directly with their healthcare providers, not politicians or activists, when making decisions about pregnancy, pain relief, or vaccination. Autism is a complex condition influenced by genetics and multiple factors, but vaccines and Tylenol are not scientifically recognized causes.
The concern is that misinformation at this level can have real consequences. When public figures spread unsupported claims, it risks undermining trust in proven medical practices and could discourage pregnant women from safely managing pain or parents from vaccinating their children.
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