UK Experts Accuse Trump Of 'Fearmongering' For Linking Paracetamol And Autism

Donald Trump has been accused of “fearmongering” and spreading “incessant misinformation” after he claimed there is a link between using paracetamol in pregnancy and autism.

The US president provided no evidence to back up his assertion, which he made while standing alongside his anti-vaccine health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.

Trump said there had been a “meteoric rise” in cases of autism and suggested that paracetamol – which is called Tylenol n the US – is a potential cause. 

“There are certain groups of people that don’t take vaccines and don’t take any pills, that have no autism,” the president claimed.

Turning to Kennedy, he said: “Is that a correct statement.”

Trump said the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would be notifying all US doctors with new guidance advising mothers-to-be not to use paracetamol during their pregnancy.

British experts were united in their condemnation of the president’s remarks, which they 

Dr Monique Botha, associate professor in social and developmental psychology at Durham University, accused Trump of “fearmongering”.

She said a Swedish study of 2.4 million births last year “found no relationship” between paracetamol use and autism.

Dr Botha said: “There is no robust evidence or convincing studies to suggest there is any causal relationship and any conclusions being drawn to the contrary are often motivated, under-evidenced, and unsupported by the most robust methods to answering this question.

“I am exceptionally confident in saying that no relationship exists.

“Similarly, pain relief for pregnant women is woefully lacking and paracetamol is a much safer pain relief option during pregnancy than basically any other alternative and we need to take pain seriously for women, including whilst pregnant.

“The fearmongering will prevent women from accessing the appropriate care during pregnancy.

“Further, it risks stigmatising families who have autistic children as having brought it on themselves and reinvigorates the long pattern of maternal shame and blame as we’ve seen re-emerge repeatedly over the last 70 years where we try to pay the fault of autism at the mother’s door one way or another.”

Dimitrios Siassakos, professor in obstetrics and gynaecology at University College London and honorary consultant in obstetrics at University College London Hospital (UCLH), said: “Autism results from several factors, often combined, particularly genetic predisposition, and sometimes low oxygen at the time of birth as a result of complications.

“Research has shown that any apparent marginal increase as a result of paracetamol/acetaminophen use in pregnancy tends to disappear when the analyses take into account the factors that matter most.

“For example, in studies looking at siblings, any association disappeared – it was the family history that mattered and not the use of paracetamol.

“Undue focus on paracetamol would risk preventing families from using one of the safest medications to use in pregnancy when needed.”

Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: “Paracetamol has been used safely by millions of people for decades, including during pregnancy, when taken as directed.

“It is the first-line choice for pain management and fever control in a variety of patients, including pregnant women, children and the elderly.

“A large study conducted in 2024 found no evidence of a link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and an increased risk of autism in children.”

Mel Merritt, head of policy and campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “The incessant misinformation about autism from President Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr risks undermining decades of research by respected experts in the field.

“Understandably, autistic people will be dismayed and frightened by this announcement, and we would urge our government and the NHS to stand by autistic people and to condemn this misinformation. To do otherwise risks creating further fear, stigmatisation and harm.

“We urge anyone looking for information about autism to visit websites from trusted organisations such as the NHS and the National Autistic Society.”