US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that pregnant women should avoid Tylenol (paracetamol), saying the FDA will advise doctors to limit its use during pregnancy unless necessary as it leads to autism in children .

The statement was immediately challenged by medical experts. Epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding called it unscientific and warned it could endanger mothers and babies. He explained that fever during pregnancy is risky, and Tylenol has long been considered safe for reducing pain and fever in expectant mothers.

Feigl-Ding cited the largest study on 2.5 million children in Sweden, which found no link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism. He described theUS health guidance as an “upside-down dystopia”, criticizing Kennedy as the “king of anti-vax” and noting that no other country supports this view. On social media platform X, Feigl-Ding shared that when proper sibling-controlled studies are used, even a preliminary 5% risk disappears entirely, confirming the safety of acetaminophen for expectant mothers.

The FDA itself clarified that while some studies have suggested a potential link between acetaminophen and autism, no causal relationship has been established, and conflicting evidence exists in the scientific literature. Health professionals expressed concern that Trump’s statement could discourage pregnant women from taking medication to reduce fever, which could have serious health consequences.

This latest episode follows a pattern of Trump and Kennedy challenging established medical guidance and selectively citing studies to promote controversial claims. Experts say such messages undermine public trust in health authorities and spread misinformation, putting vulnerable populations at risk.

With this announcement, the debate over Tylenol’s safety in pregnancy has resurfaced, but doctors continue to insist that acetaminophen remains safe when used as directed, emphasizing the importance of relying on scientific evidence rather than political statements.