John Thune Pushes Back on Trump’s Tylenol Warning, Calls for Science-Based Decisions
Senator John Thune laments President Donald Trump’s recent advice to pregnant women to avoid Tylenol, highlighting the need for medical evidence rather than political comments in health advice.
Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warned this week that Tylenol’s main ingredient, acetaminophen, may increase autism risk in youngsters. Trump told pregnant women to “fight like hell” to avoid Tylenol and that the FDA will advise doctors to limit use except when necessary. The FDA would also revise acetaminophen warning labels, the administration said.
In response, Tylenol maker Kenvue said acetaminophen is one of the safest medications for pregnant women when used as directed. It emphasized that decades of research by top medical experts have shown no link between the drug and autism or other developmental disorders.
CNN said that Thune was “very concerned” about the administration’s changing posture. Father and grandfather Thune stressed that scientific knowledge, not intuition, should guide maternal health and pregnancy talks. He added that Mount Sinai and Harvard study on acetaminophen use during pregnancy has raised autism and ADHD concerns, although many experts interpret the data differently.
Thune cautioned against making broad assertions, saying that any major public health effort relies on consistent facts and expert consensus. His opinion was that governments should prioritize medical and scientific advice before national instructions.
Public health leaders say Trump’s admonition oversimplifies a complex medical issue. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called the claim false and frightening for pregnant women. Amid ongoing pregnancy health and child development research, doctors say no new data supports changing Tylenol use guidelines.
An old Tylenol social media statement opposing pregnant use resurfaced last week, confusing the internet. Kenvue said the message was incomplete and didn’t reflect the company’s overall safety advice: observe label warnings and consult a doctor before taking any OTC drug during pregnancy.
Thune’s comments were one of the most opposed to the Trump administration among Republican leaders during the debate, illustrating the disconnect between politics and medicine. Medically supervised Tylenol usage is safe for pregnant women, say doctors.
Sources
CNN interview with Sen. John Thune
Statements from President Donald Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Official statements from Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol
Research from Mount Sinai and Harvard University
Comments from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
