President Donald Trump announced sweeping new medical guidelines at a press conference, warning Americans about the risks of acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, and linking it to autism.
The announcement, which Resist the Mainstream hinted was coming on Monday, marked one of the most direct federal interventions on the subject to date.
It immediately drew both support and criticism, as one might expect.
Trump said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will issue immediate guidance to doctors, instructing them to caution pregnant women against taking acetaminophen “unless medically necessary.”
He specified that exceptions should apply only in cases of “extremely high fever.”
During his remarks, Trump told pregnant women they “have a responsibility” to endure pain rather than reach for Tylenol.
He urged them to “fight like hell not to take it,” saying it should only be used if women “can’t tough it out” or face severe medical circumstances.
He also urged parents not to give acetaminophen to their children.
The press conference featured Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been a longtime critic of certain public health practices. Together, the two addressed what they characterized as the rising threat of autism in the United States.
Trump also criticized what he described as America’s “disgraceful” vaccine schedule, despite health officials stating repeatedly that vaccines are not linked to autism.
The administration unveiled findings from a federal review directed by the health secretary, who earlier in the year declared that “autism destroys families.”
Citing a 400 percent increase in cases over several decades, Trump described the rise as “one of the most alarming medical crises in history.”
“You know it’s something artificial,” Trump said. “With Tylenol, don’t take it. There’s not an alternative to that.”
Acetaminophen, which is called paracetamol in much of the world, is one of the most widely used medications for pain and fever relief.
Research on whether it affects fetal brain development has produced mixed results, and major health bodies continue to advise that the drug is safe during pregnancy when used as directed.
The manufacturer of Tylenol, Kenvue, pushed back strongly against the administration’s claims.
The Daily Mail reported that the company called the accusations “dangerous” and reaffirmed its position that acetaminophen remains the safest option for pregnant women to manage pain and fever.
Trump also praised the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for halting its recommendation of the combined measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and varicella vaccine.
He encouraged families to request the MMR vaccine as three separate shots, claiming that mixing them “could be a problem.”
He added that he was still a “big believer in vaccines.”
Kennedy emphasized what he called a breakthrough treatment for autism: leucovorin, a folic acid–derived pill costing about $2.50.
The Daily Mail noted that while evidence is mixed, some doctors report significant improvements in children with autism who are treated with the drug.
The outlet added that folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is already recommended for pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects in babies.
Researchers are now investigating whether it can also help repair pathways in the brains of children after birth.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary confirmed that the agency plans to approve leucovorin for children with autism.
Government-subsidized insurance is expected to cover the treatment, and Dr. Mehmet Oz said private insurers are “likely to follow.”
Trump hailed the announcement as a milestone.
“It’s not that everything is 100 percent understood or known,” he said.
“But I think we’ve made a lot of strides. We understood a lot more than a lot of people who studied it, we think. This is a very important day.”
He also repeated the long-standing claim that autism is not present in Amish communities.
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