Kennedy Reiterates Controversial Tylenol-Autism Claim in Cabinet Meeting

During a Cabinet meeting on March 15, 2024, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reiterated his controversial and largely unproven assertion linking the pain reliever Tylenol to autism. In a discussion that included President Donald Trump and other Cabinet members, Kennedy suggested that critics of this theory were driven by a personal animosity towards the President.

Kennedy emphasized the need for further studies to establish a definitive link between Tylenol and autism, despite acknowledging the absence of concrete medical proof. “Anyone who takes the stuff during pregnancy unless they have to is irresponsible,” he stated, underscoring his belief that pregnant women should avoid the medication.

His remarks included a mischaracterization of human anatomy, as he described a pregnant woman taking Tylenol “with a baby in her placenta.” This is incorrect; a fetus develops in the uterus, while the placenta is a temporary organ that supports the fetus during pregnancy.

Kennedy’s statements come just weeks after he stood alongside Trump at the White House, where the President endorsed claims linking Tylenol and vaccines to autism. During the Cabinet meeting, Kennedy referenced a viral TikTok video featuring a pregnant woman consuming Tylenol while expressing disdain for Trump, claiming that this reflects a broader societal issue he termed “Trump derangement syndrome.”

In addition to his Tylenol claims, Kennedy addressed the topic of circumcision, asserting that infant boys who undergo the procedure have a doubled risk of developing autism because they are often administered Tylenol afterward. This assertion appears to reference a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine in 2015, which examined the relationship between ritual circumcision and autism spectrum disorder among boys under ten in Denmark.

While the study indicated a greater incidence of autism among circumcised boys, researchers emphasized that their findings did not establish causation. They noted a lack of data regarding the use of painkillers or anesthetics, leaving the potential influence of Tylenol unexamined. Furthermore, other studies have found no credible evidence to support a link between circumcision and autism.

Kennedy has faced scrutiny throughout his tenure as Health Secretary for promoting unconventional health beliefs, raising concerns among medical professionals about the potential impact on evidence-based health policies in the United States. The scientific community remains largely skeptical of his claims, urging the public to rely on established research and expert consensus when making health-related decisions.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, continues to provide coverage on these vital health discussions.