Unfounded Health Claims by Trump
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again sparked controversy with his health-related statements. This week, the former president intensified his call for pregnant women to avoid using paracetamol, known in the U.S. as Tylenol, and to delay several infant vaccines, including hepatitis B and the triple viral (measles, mumps, and rubella), despite a lack of scientific backing for his assertions.
Unsubstantiated Advice
During a press conference at the White House, Trump linked the consumption of paracetamol during pregnancy to an alleged increased risk of autism in children. Although he acknowledged not being a medical professional, he insisted that “it’s better to avoid it,” and urged splitting the triple viral vaccine into three separate doses and postponing the hepatitis B vaccine until after age 12.
“Pregnant women, do not use Tylenol unless absolutely necessary, and don’t give young children Tylenol for any reason,” he later wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Conflicting Recommendations
Trump’s stance contradicts recommendations from international organizations such as the WHO and the European Medicines Agency, which have repeatedly stated that there is no conclusive evidence linking paracetamol use to autism. These institutions advise maintaining its use at the lowest effective doses and only when necessary, without discouraging it.
Scientific Community’s Criticism
Dozens of medical associations, researchers, and autism advocacy groups have criticized the president’s statements, deeming them dangerous misinformation. Arthur Caplan, director of medical ethics at New York University, warned that these claims could create unnecessary fear among pregnant women.
“They might feel guilty for trying to lower a fever during pregnancy, and that’s unfair,” he noted. Other experts pointed out that the studies suggesting a possible link are observational and do not prove causality.
Trump’s History with Public Health
Trump’s recent statements evoke memories of his early press conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he downplayed the virus’s risk, suggested slowing down detection tests, and even mentioned injecting disinfectant as a sarcastic idea to eliminate the virus—which he later clarified was not meant to be taken literally.
During his first term, he also questioned the use of masks and promoted unproven COVID-19 treatments like hydroxychloroquine, fueling confusion amidst the health crisis.
Political and Social Impact
Trump’s persistent linking of vaccines and medications to autism coincides with his Health Secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr., advocating for a review of the U.S. infant vaccination policy and promising to investigate what he calls an “epidemic of autism.”
Experts caution that such messages could erode trust in vaccination programs, deemed crucial for preventing disease outbreaks like measles or hepatitis B, which can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth.
Key Questions and Answers
- What did Trump claim about paracetamol and autism? Trump suggested that using paracetamol during pregnancy could increase the risk of autism in children.
- What vaccines did Trump recommend delaying? He advised postponing the hepatitis B vaccine until after age 12 and splitting the triple viral (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine into three separate doses.
- What are the scientific organizations’ recommendations? The WHO and European Medicines Agency recommend using paracetamol at the lowest effective doses when necessary without discouraging it.
- How did the scientific community react to Trump’s statements? Many medical associations, researchers, and autism advocacy groups criticized Trump’s claims as dangerous misinformation.
- What is the potential impact on public health? Trump’s persistent linking of vaccines and medications to autism could undermine trust in essential vaccination programs.
