On Monday, September 22, 2025, President Donald Trump shared a warning about taking Tylenol during pregnancy. The information he shared conflicts with what medical experts recommend. During an Oval Office press conference, the president urged pregnant women to “tough it out” and “fight like hell” to not take it unless absolutely necessary. However, medical experts have stated that the benefits of taking Tylenol, or acetaminophen, to treat certain issues (like fevers) during pregnancy outweigh the risks.
After the announcement, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released a statement. In it, ACOG president Steven J. Fleischman called the drug “essential to the people who need it” because untreated pain and fevers during pregnancy come with serious risks for both mom and baby.
During the briefing, Trump claimed that “there’s no downside” to not taking Tylenol while pregnant — which is not exactly true. The drug is considered one of the safest pain relievers for pregnant women. Per CNN, research has found that taking ibuprofen during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects, making Tylenol the safer option.
Donald Trump suggests that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism in babies and advises pregnant women not to take it.
— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 22, 2025
No new evidence was presented, and no conclusive study has found that Tylenol causes autism. pic.twitter.com/rouHT5KXsH
Studies have found that untreated fevers during pregnancy can increase the risk of congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, and oral clefts, among other risks. Though Trump warned expectant mothers that Tylenol is “not good” and can lead to autism, Fleischman called these claims “irresponsible” and noted that “the conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks and can create severe morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and the fetus.”
Trump told pregnant people that they should not take Tylenol unless they absolutely have to, like in the case of an extremely high fever, The Hill reported. “If you’re pregnant, don’t take Tylenol,” he said. “When you have your baby, don’t give your baby Tylenol at all unless it’s absolutely necessary.” He reiterated this point with, “I want to say it like it is: Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it. Fight like hell not to take it.”
Trump says pregnant women should only take Tylenol “sparingly, if you can’t tough it out.” Excuse me? A man who has never been pregnant telling women to just “tough it out” instead of treating pain or fever? What in the actual dumb crap is this. He literally said he wouldn’t…
— Nisha Patel, MD MS, Dipl of ABOM, CCMS (@DrPlantel) September 23, 2025
Fleischman pushed back on the claims that taking Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of autism. “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,” Fleischman’s statement read. “Today’s announcement by HHS is not backed by the full body of scientific evidence and dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children.”
Fleischman added that “it’s important to consider all potential risks along with any benefits,” but “acetaminophen plays an important — and safe — role in the well-being of pregnant women.”
