Trump Raises Concerns About Tylenol Use in Pregnancy – Harvard Research Suggests He’s Right

When Donald Trump raises a public health concern, the political reaction often focuses more on him than on the science. If Trump declared that drinking gasoline was dangerous, you can bet a TikTok brigade of Trump-hating liberals would be chugging unleaded gas on camera to “own the Orange Man.”

His recent warning about the safety of acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy serves as an example. Almost immediately, critics in the corporate media dismissed him with familiar phrases: “Trump isn’t a doctor,” “Trump doesn’t know science,” and “Trump is fearmongering.” On social media, some even filmed themselves defiantly taking Tylenol during pregnancy to mock him.

But the facts tell a different story. The evidence Trump referenced isn’t fringe. It comes from Harvard University and the dean of its School of Public Health, Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, coauthor of a high-quality meta-analysis published in Environmental Health. The study examined 46 separate studies investigating prenatal acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.

The authors explained their approach:

“Applying the Navigation Guide methodology to the scientific literature to comprehensively and objectively examine the association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and NDDs (neurodevelopmental disorders) and related symptomology in offspring.”

Their findings should give anyone pause:

“We identified 46 studies for inclusion in our analysis. Of these, 27 studies reported positive associations (significant links to NDDs), 9 showed null associations (no significant link), and 4 indicated negative associations (protective effects). Higher-quality studies were more likely to show positive associations.”

Put simply, most studies showed a connection between Tylenol use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in children, including ADHD and autism spectrum disorder. The authors concluded:

“Overall, the majority of the studies reported positive associations of prenatal acetaminophen use with ADHD, ASD, or NDDs in offspring, with risk-of-bias and strength-of-evidence ratings informing the overall synthesis.”

In other words, the more rigorous the study, the more likely it was to find a risk. That contrasts sharply with the idea that acetaminophen is universally “safe and effective.”

Instead of seriously considering this evidence, Trump’s critics opted for mockery. Videos went viral showing pregnant women, including doctors, taking Tylenol on camera, seemingly to counter Trump. One widely shared clip captures a pregnant physician doing just that, despite evidence indicating possible harm.

There is an unverified X-post:

“A pregnant women is dying in the hospital of liver failure from a "Prove Trump Wrong" about Tylenol causing autism so Tylenol overdose. She has no hope of survival. Her husband is there watching his wife and child die because his wife thought Orange man bad.”

Given the many other available pain relievers, do the risks of Tylenol justify the potential benefits? In these cases, the political gain seemed to outweigh the medical risks.

This is politics overriding common sense. Trump Derangement Syndrome has become so automatic that if Trump says the sky is blue, some insist it must be green. The rule is simple: oppose Trump at all costs, even if that means dismissing legitimate scientific concerns.

It’s also a reversal of the “trust the science” mantra heard throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, the science is clear: a meta-analysis led by Harvard researchers found consistent links between prenatal acetaminophen use and higher risks of ADHD, autism, and other neurodevelopmental disorders in children. That is not the opinion of a fringe blogger. It is peer-reviewed research from one of the world’s leading academic institutions.

Even Tylenol itself has acknowledged caution. In a 2017 post on its official X/Twitter account, the company stated: “We actually don’t recommend using any of our products while pregnant.”

Yet because Trump mentioned it, the story shifted. Suddenly, “trust the science” turned into “ignore the science,” with critics more focused on scoring political points than discussing evidence that could affect millions of families.

Remember when Trump asked his medical advisors about the possible benefits of bleach in treating COVID, which is based on established science? The media and the left immediately claimed that Trump was recommending that people drink bleach, which he certainly was not.

The study’s authors left little doubt, concluding:

“Appropriate and immediate steps should be taken to advise pregnant women to limit acetaminophen consumption to protect their offspring’s neurodevelopment.”

That is exactly what Trump, echoing his health advisors and citing credible research, said this week. He raised a caution flag based on data, not speculation.

Tylenol remains accessible and will continue to be available. It has not been banned or restricted. This is simply a public service announcement as a cautionary note. Caveat emptor.

The responsible response would be to conduct further research, engage in thoughtful public discussion, and update medical guidelines. Instead, we encounter dismissive headlines and viral social media stunts.

The meta-analysis clearly concludes, “Appropriate and immediate steps should be taken to advise pregnant women to limit acetaminophen consumption to protect their offspring's neurodevelopment.”

Trump sounded the alarm. Harvard and Tylenol backed him up. The media? They’re too busy ridiculing the messenger to consider the message.

Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., is a physician and writer.

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