Ella Harry | Head Editor
September 26, 2025
In a White House conference this past Monday, President Trump made claims linking rising diagnoses of autism to prenatal use of Tylenol. The theory, first introduced by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, has led to further political division, with some viewing this as the most recent spewing of lies by the Trump administration and others praising the claim as fulfilling the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. Although Trump’s and Kennedy’s accusations against Tylenol have since been circulated widely in the media, less talk has occurred surrounding the origin of these allegations.
Despite questions as to the source of these claims, multiple studies have been conducted on the topic. One in particular, carried out by Harvard’s School of Public Health, found a potential link between the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and neurological disorders in children. However, researchers note that this risk is only a significant threat when the medication is taken for an extended period of time, designated by the study as four weeks or longer. Additionally, experts clarify that, at times, taking such medication is vital to prevent fevers and illness during pregnancy, which can lead to birth defects and harm both the mother and unborn child. While similar studies have also found a potential correlation between autism diagnoses and consumption of the drug by pregnant mothers, research is still ongoing. Many feel that there has been a discrepancy between the original scientific sources and the Trump administration’s statements. Despite researchers explicitly labeling the results of the original studies as correlational, not causational, the Trump administration intends to act quickly on the issue, enforcing a Food and Drug Administration warning to doctors as to the risks of Tylenol during pregnancy.
However, many Americans feel that this is an overstep and a hasty move, given the research gap still existing surrounding autism. SCHS Seniors Ashlyn Heller and Fatima Mendoza vocalized their thoughts on the situation. While Heller felt the issue was of great importance, she shared the opinion that, “America should do more of its own scientific research first.” Essentially, her view, like that of many others, encompasses the idea that the spectrum of autism is broad and remains too ill-defined and under-researched to take immediate governmental action. Mendoza, on the other hand, shared her belief that, “the country has bigger issues to focus on at the moment.” While she explained that she still views autism as a condition that should be further defined and studied, she, as many other Americans would likely agree, believes that the attack on Tylenol comes at a time where the government has other highly pressing issues to shift their focus towards.
Overall, the left and right both seem to share the desire for a greater understanding of autism and improved treatment options for those affected by the disorder. The way that the two sides go about this issue and interpret existing research, however, has been drastically different. In the meantime, it will be interesting to see where the Trump administration decides to take legislation regarding autism in the near future, as well as whether or not the research used to inform these decisions proves successful in lowering future development of the disability.
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