On Sept. 22, 2025, President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr, US Health and Human Services Secretary, made their huge “Autism Announcement,” claiming to have found the cause of autism. Acetaminophen, known commonly as Tylenol, which causes a “very increased risk of autism,” when used during pregnancy according to Trump. Trump said Tylenol should only be taken when medically necessary, like in the case of a fever, if the pregnant person “can’t tough it out,” during his announcement.
But his claims about Tylenol aren’t exactly true. While many years have been spent trying to find a definitive cause of autism, one hasn’t been found. However while there are factors that may increase chances of a child being born with autism, most of which are genetic. According to the National Library of Medicine, Tylenol is one of the few over the counter medicines that are relatively safe to take during any point in pregnancy, as others may lead to serious complications if taken at certain times. Some studies, like the one posted by Biomed Central, show some positive correlation between Tylenol use and children being born with autism, but they aren’t extremely consistent and only point to the possibility of an increased risk.
Trump also advocated for spreading apart childhood vaccines and even pushing some back saying “too many different things are going into that baby,” during his announcement. However in 2024, the Center for Disease Control outright denied claims that vaccines cause autism, citing studies ranging from 2003 to 2013.
There are hundreds of studies and sources saying that pushing back vaccinations and leaving children unvaccinated is extremely dangerous. And even if all of the studies are wrong and vaccines do in fact cause autism, I believe most people would take the risk to keep their kids alive. Leaving children vulnerable to diseases places them and those around them at risk for catching a life threatening illness, and with no resistance built up to those illnesses, many would likely pass away, according to NPR.
I believe with how things are going, that Trump and Kennedy’s claims surrounding vaccinations may lead to an increase in the mortality rate in illnesses that vaccines have decreased to nearly zero for years. Many people have already been skeptical of vaccines despite the years of evidence that they are safe, and this announcement may be the final push to lead a new wave of unvaccinated children, subsequently putting the general public at risk for an epidemic.
Kennedy has made some rather frightening comments regarding autism, calling it an “epidemic” and a “preventable disease,” and frequently characterizing autistic people as incapable. I believe his claims regarding autism may have been what led up to these seemingly rushed and inaccurate claims by the president.
It’s impossible to know for certain why President Trump and Kennedy have publicized these claims, many of which have been proven wrong countless times, but I believe it ranges anywhere from incompetence to something far more terrifying. Kennedy’s language is clearly intentional and meant to dehumanize those with autism, even going so far as to call it a “holocaust,” according to the Guardian. Its possible that this blatant attempt at dehumanizing those with autism is intentional, as his statements follow the template for fear mongering surrounding a group used by world leaders for years.
Autistic people aren’t diseased or any of the things Kennedy claims them to be, and his speeches and now collaboration in the recent announcement have only worked to spread fear among the public regarding autism, and will likely only make life harder for those with autism if he continues.
