President Donald Trump made unsubstantiated claims about autism rates among the Amish and Cuban populations during a White House announcement Monday linking acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy to autism spectrum disorder.
The president went off-script during the scheduled health announcement, making statements that medical experts are already challenging.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Monday for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump’s statements perpetuate long-debunked myths about autism prevalence in specific communities while potentially discouraging pregnant women from using acetaminophen, the most commonly recommended pain reliever during pregnancy for decades.
The claims could influence public health decisions and reinforce harmful misconceptions about autism spectrum disorder that researchers have worked to dispel.
What To Know
Trump made several unproven claims during Monday’s news conference. “I think I can say that there are certain groups of people that don’t take any vaccines or don’t take any pills that have no autism,” he said, before immediately asking his health officials, “Is that a correct statement by the way?” Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. cited the Amish as an example, prompting Trump to say they have essentially no autism.
The president then extended his claims to Cuba, saying: “I mean, there’s a rumor and I don’t know if it’s still or not that Cuba, they don’t have Tylenol because they don’t have the money for Tylenol, and they have virtually no autism, OK?”
After going significantly off-script, Trump acknowledged his deviation by telling Kennedy, “I hope I didn’t ruin his day,” before calling on the HHS secretary to speak.
Scientific research contradicts Trump’s claims about both communities. Regarding the Amish, a 2008 study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found autism prevalence in Pennsylvania’s Amish population comparable to general population rates. A subsequent 2011 study comparing Amish and non-Amish populations in Ohio found no significant difference in autism rates.
Cuba’s autism statistics also contradict Trump’s claims. Based on Ministry of Public Health data and records from people receiving autism services, officials estimate that 1 in 2,500 Cuban children have autism spectrum disorder, though they recognize this is likely an underestimate due to flawed surveillance methods, according to MEDICC Review.
Autism experts who have studied Cuba note that the country “has autism too. Lots of it,” but acknowledge that resources for comprehensive prevalence studies haven’t been available due to economic constraints, according to Autism Spectrum News. Some sources have claimed Cuba has “100 times fewer diagnoses of autism” than the U.S., but experts suggest this reflects diagnostic limitations rather than actual lower prevalence, as reported by The Havana Times. The perception of lower rates stems from under-diagnosis and limited health care infrastructure rather than actual absence of autism.
Regarding acetaminophen, while some observational studies have found associations between extended use during pregnancy and higher rates of neurodevelopmental disorders, experts emphasize these studies don’t definitively prove causation.
What People Are Saying
Trump, during the announcement: “With Tylenol, don’t take it. Don’t take it. And if you can’t live and your fever is so bad, you have to take one because there’s no alternative to that, sadly.”
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, in a Monday statement: ““Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients, including those who may need to rely on this beneficial medicine during pregnancy.”
Emergency doctor and public health leader Craig Spencer, MD, MPH, on X: “Yes, autism exists in the Amish community. Yes, Cuba has acetaminophen. Yes, this is just one misinformed lie after another.
“I’m absolutely speechless. Like, wow. This is the worst ‘health’ press conference I maybe have ever seen and I watched everyone during Covid. How are we doing this again???”
