Trump, RFK Jr. Fuel Autism-Vaccine Link Controversy Amid Health Policy Debate

President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference asserting a link between acetaminophen (Tylenol) and autism, while also revisiting debunked claims that vaccines cause autism. They urged pregnant women to avoid acetaminophen despite scientific evidence indicating fever during pregnancy may itself increase neurodevelopmental risks. Trump's claims included unsubstantiated statements about low autism rates in Cuba and Amish communities, which experts say are inaccurate or based on rumors. The World Health Organization strongly refuted these claims, emphasizing that vaccines do not cause autism and that evidence linking acetaminophen to autism is inconclusive. Medical experts and organizations have criticized the administration's stance as dangerous and unsupported by peer-reviewed research, warning that it undermines public trust in vaccines and health guidance. This controversy follows the administration's previous contentious health policies and reports, notably influenced by Kennedy's skeptical views on vaccines.