RFK Jr. Says There Is Presently “Not Sufficient” Data Linking Autism And Tylenol
on Oct 30, 2025
HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Still Holds That Data Leans Toward Link Between Autism And Tylenol
Just over a month ago, on September 22, President Donald Trump joined Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to speak on a “potential” link between autism and Tylenol.
While RFK Jr. reiterated the “potential” of this connection, he noted that HHS “will perform the studies that should’ve been performed 25 years ago.”
Further, he stated, “Whatever the answer is, we will tell you what we find.”
During a press conference on Wednesday, October 29, RFK Jr. was asked about the potential connection between pregnant women taking Tylenol and their children having autism.
RFK Jr. responded, saying, “We’ve all said from the beginning that the causative association between Tylenol given in pregnancy and perinatal periods is not sufficient to say [Tylenol] definitely causes autism, but it is very suggestive.”
RELATED: Trump And RFK Jr. Announce “Potential” Link Between Tylenol And Autism
Watch RFK Jr.’s Most Recent Comments On Autism Being Linked To Tylenol
While the subject of the press conference on October 29 was about the FDA accelerating the production of biosimilar prescription drugs, or “generics,” to help lower drug costs for Americans.
When asked about the potential of insufficient data linking autism to Tylenol, the reporter cited a high-ranking Republican senator as his source, without disclosing the senator’s name.
Still, RFK Jr. responded, noting the data is “very suggestive” of a link between autism and the active ingredient in Tylenol of acetaminophen.
From there, he went on to say that animal studies and core blood studies, as well as international observational studies, are the basis for why he still believes there is a suggestion of a link, adding, “There should be a cautious approach to it.”
Continuing, he stated, “Our message to patients, to mothers, to people who are pregnant, and the mothers of young children is to consult your physician, and we have asked physicians to minimize [Tylenol’s] use to when it’s absolutely necessary.”
Watch his full comments, here:
Background On HHS’ Study Of Autism
Every two years, the CDC conducts a survey, utilizing data derived from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.
In the year 2000, the CDC’s survey reported that 1 in every 150 eight-year-olds had Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
By 2020, the CDC reported that figure was estimated to be 1 in every 36 eight-year-olds.
The latest survey, from 2022 data, estimates 1 in 31 eight-year-olds have ASD.
This was shared by RFK Jr. at a press conference in April, who went on to say, “This is part of an unrelenting upward trend. Most cases, now, are severe … About 25% of the kids who are diagnosed with autism are non-verbal, non-toilet trained, and have other stereotypical features.”
RFK Jr. stated he wanted the subject of the cause of autism as a field of research to no longer be stigmatized, adding that autism is a “preventable disease.”
“We know it’s environmental exposure. It has to be. Genes do not cause epidemics. They can provide a vulnerability, but you need an environmental toxin.”
During the September press conference announcing the “potential” link between Tylenol and Autism, Trump said the FDA would be notifying physicians of this research, adding that it will be “strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary.”
Such medical necessities for Tylenol include having a high fever during pregnancy, advising that it should be used “sparingly.”
Further, Tylenol should not be used at, likely, any stage of pregnancy, or given to children, Trump said.
This comes as pregnant women are already advised not to take Advil, or ibuprofen, with NIH stating:
“There have been some reports that [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen] use in the second half of pregnancy might affect the fetal kidneys and the amount of amniotic fluid (fluid that surrounds the fetus in the uterus).”
Make America Healthy Again
The effort (and subsequent exposure) that has gone into studying the cause of autism within the first year of Trump’s second term is, in many ways, a presidential campaign fulfillment for RFK Jr.
Prior to endorsing Trump on the campaign trail in the 2024 election, RFK Jr. was running for president as an Independent after declaring his independence from the Democrat party in the fall of 2023.
Identifying the cause of autism was something that RFK Jr. ran on, joined by his running mate Nicole Shanahan.
When RFK Jr. suspended his campaign to endorse Trump, Trump adopted many of RFK Jr.’s talking points under the umbrella of the slogan Make America Healthy Again.
This is a developing story.
