WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday publicly linked the use of Tylenol during pregnancy and early childhood vaccines to autism, a claim long dismissed by medical experts.
In a White House press conference, Trump urged pregnant women to avoid the painkiller, saying, “Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it.” He further suggested that children should not be given multiple vaccines too early in life.
The remarks immediately stirred controversy, as leading health organizations stressed there is no scientific evidence connecting acetaminophen, Tylenol’s active ingredient, to autism. Studies consistently show it is safe for use during pregnancy when taken in proper doses.
Trump’s comments rattled financial markets. Shares of consumer health company Kenvue, which makes Tylenol, fell more than seven per cent during Monday’s trading before recovering about five per cent in after-hours dealings.
Russia grants citizenship to US woman who accused Biden of sexual assault
The stock remains down around 14 per cent since September 5, when reports first surfaced that the administration planned to link acetaminophen to autism.
Kenvue, spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023, defended its product. “Independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism,” the company said, warning that the president’s remarks could endanger the health of pregnant women.
Medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, also rejected Trump’s claims, cautioning that such statements fuel fear without evidence.