Trump's Misleading Claims on Autism and Vaccines: A Fact-check Review

Tue Oct 21 2025 19:47:17 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Experts rebut claims made by Donald Trump regarding links between autism, Tylenol, and vaccines during a recent press conference. The article explores the implications of such statements on public health.

During a recent event, US President Donald Trump made controversial claims linking the painkiller Tylenol to autism and questioned the administration of combined vaccinations, suggesting it could lead to health issues. Health professionals have condemned his statements as unfounded and irresponsible, citing significant evidence against his assertions. This fact-check highlights the rising rates of autism diagnosis and clarifies misconceptions surrounding vaccine safety, emphasizing the importance of informed medical guidance.

U.S. President Donald Trump has attracted condemnation from health experts after he sought to claim there was a link between the widely used painkiller Tylenol and autism. Accompanied by his Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump asserted that doctors would soon be advised not to recommend the drug - known as paracetamol in many countries - to pregnant women. Health critics reacted, with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists describing the statement as 'unsettling' and not rooted in reliable data, while the U.K.'s National Autism Society labeled it as 'dangerous and irresponsible.'

BBC Verify has investigated some of the claims made during their news conference, particularly those regarding autism diagnoses. Trump stated that autism rates in the U.S. have escalated dramatically over the past two decades, referencing statistics that are not entirely accurate. While he correctly quoted that one in 31 children are diagnosed with autism according to the CDC's latest data, his previous figures lacked corroboration and did not reflect the gradual rise attributable to enhanced diagnostic practices and awareness.

On vaccines, Trump claimed that the MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) vaccine should be administered separately rather than as a combined shot. Experts warn that such claims could deter parents from vaccinating their children, potentially leading to outbreaks of preventable diseases. The discredited notion that vaccines are linked to autism was rooted in a now-retracted study by Andrew Wakefield and has been thoroughly debunked by numerous studies, including a landmark 2019 Danish study involving over 650,000 children.

Trump also noted the Amish community in relation to autism rates, suggesting their limited use of Tylenol contributed to 'virtually no autism' among them. However, studies indicate that few diagnoses are reported because of cultural practices regarding education and healthcare. Experts stress that such claims require more rigorous examination as the existing research is scarce.

Overall, Trump's statements raise concerns about the dissemination of misinformation in public health communications and the critical need for clear, evidence-based guidance from health professionals in controlling vaccine skepticism and promoting general health.