During a surprising press conference on Sunday, Donald Trump connected autism to the use of childhood vaccines and the pain medication Tylenol taken by pregnant women. He claimed that the dosages given to babies are similar to those given to horses, which has drawn criticism from many experts in the field.
On Monday, Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference to discuss their “autism announcement.”
The President, who is not a medical professional, suggested that pregnant women should avoid Tylenol to potentially lower the risk of their child developing autism.
While he didn't outright say he was against all vaccines, he mentioned that important immunizations should be postponed or given separately instead of in combination.
However, vaccines have not been shown to be linked to autism, and many medical experts are now speaking out against the statements made by the president and his health secretary.
On Air Force One, while returning from the Charlie Kirk memorial service in Glendale, Arizona, Trump was asked about the autism announcement made on Monday.
Donald Trump claims babies get ‘massive vaccines like you'd give to a horse
When a reporter asked him about the connection between autism and vaccines, and mentioned that scientists agree there is no connection, the president got really worked up.
“Vaccines are really interesting. They can be awesome, but when you add the wrong things to them, you know… And, you know, kids get these huge vaccines like you'd give to a horse… like you'd give to a horse,” the president said.
“And I've been saying for a long time, this is no secret – spread them out over five years. Get five small shots. Have you ever seen what they give? I mean, for a tiny baby to get that much fluid, even aside from the actual ingredients, they sometimes have 80 different vaccines in them. It's insane.”
He continued, “You know that's just common sense too… It's like you're injecting a horse. You have a little body, a little baby, and you're pumping this huge amount. It's a terrible thing. So I've always thought that. But we'll be having a big talk about autism tomorrow,” he added.
Many medical experts are now challenging Donald Trump's statements. According to the BBC, Dr. Steven Fleischman, who is the president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said in a press release that Trump and Kennedy's announcement “is not supported by the complete body of scientific evidence and dangerously oversimplifies the many and complex causes of neurological issues in children.”
Experts strikes back on Trump's ‘fake news'
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said that Tylenol is the only pain reliever that is safe for pregnant women. This recommendation comes not just from the group but also from governments all over the world.
“Research done in the past shows no solid proof that using acetaminophen carefully during any trimester is linked to problems in fetal development,” the group stated.
In a message to the BBC, Kenvue, the company that makes Tylenol, mentioned that the science clearly indicates that taking acetaminophen does not lead to autism.
“We strongly disagree with any claims to the contrary and are very worried about the health risks this could create for expectant mothers.”
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