Trump's statements linking Tylenol and vaccinations to autism have sparked debate in the professional community.

Trump believes that pregnant women should avoid Tylenol, and child vaccinations, he said, should be postponed and not administered with combination medications. In light of these comments, the US presidential administration is discussing labeling changes for over-the-counter acetaminophen, intending to add a warning about possible risks to the nervous system, even though a direct cause-and-effect link to autism has not been proven. However, Kennedy Jr. previously noted that it is premature to draw conclusions about a link between Tylenol and autism until an official report is released. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in turn, reiterated that acetaminophen remains one of the few safe and recommended pain relievers for pregnant women.

The European Union emphasized that political statements lack scientific support. The European Medicines Agency confirmed that there is no new evidence to warrant a revision of the recommendations for the use of paracetamol. The British regulator, the MHRA, made a similar statement. Both agencies emphasize that the drug can be used as indicated at the lowest effective dose and carries no proven risk. European health authorities and specialized societies also emphasized that vaccination is safe, and claims of a link between it and autism are false and harmful to public trust in healthcare systems.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also confirmed that vaccinations do not cause autism, a myth that has been refuted by numerous large studies. Regarding Tylenol, the WHO notes that data on a possible link between its use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders remains contradictory and inconsistent. There are no grounds for revising international recommendations, and paracetamol remains considered safe when used appropriately, including during pregnancy.

Scientific studies reflect the position of international regulators. For example, a large Swedish cohort, published in JAMA in 2024 and involving over 2 million children, found no association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy in mothers with autism, ADHD, or other developmental disabilities in their children. A meta-analysis of 46 studies was published in BMC Environmental Health in August 2025, six of which concerned acetaminophen and autism. The researchers identified possible associations, but did not prove causality.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of autism in eight-year-olds in the United States in 2022 was one in 31 children, and the increase in this rate is explained primarily by the expansion of diagnostic criteria and increased detection, rather than by the effects of specific drugs or vaccinations.

Tylenol's reputation has been tested in the past. The drug has been at the center of high-profile scandals, from the so-called "Chicago poisonings" of 1982 to batch recalls due to contamination in the 2000s. However, these incidents have not undermined its standing: today, Tylenol remains the most popular over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer in the United States.