President Donald Trump struggled through a major announcement Monday as he attempted to connect autism to the use of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, by pregnant women. Standing at the White House, the 79-year-old president declared that his administration had found troubling links between autism and use of the common pain reliever.
But his delivery was overshadowed by his difficulty pronouncing the medication. “Effective immediately,” Trump read from a sheet of paper, “the FDA will be notifying physicians that the use of… acedo—well, let’s see how we say that.” He tried again. “Aceda… menophin.” With narrowed eyes, he gave one final attempt before reaching the correct pronunciation.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, acetaminophen is pronounced “uh-see-duh-MIN-uh-fuhn.” “Is that OK?” Trump asked, turning to Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity physician currently overseeing Medicaid. Oz nodded in approval. Trump pressed on, telling the public that taking Tylenol during pregnancy “can be associated with a very increased risk of autism.”
He added, “So taking Tylenol is not good. Alright? I’ll say it: It’s not good.” Joining him was Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has made autism central to his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative and continues to push the false claim that vaccines are linked to the condition, according to CNBC.
Trump went further, suggesting that some groups who avoid vaccines and pills report no autism cases. “Is that a correct statement by the way?” he asked Kennedy. Kennedy responded by pointing to the Amish, though autism exists within that community.
The president’s remarks also drew attention to his own health. Despite praising a drug-free lifestyle, Trump is vaccinated and currently takes at least three prescribed medications, according to an April memo from his physician.
His age, health concerns, and frequent gaffes have fueled questions about his fitness for office. In recent months, he has confused names, calling an imaginary governor “Kristi Whitman,” referring to St. Petersburg by its Soviet-era name of Leningrad, and even invented a foreign conflict he claimed to have resolved.
Medical experts strongly rejected his latest claim. Tylenol is widely considered the safest option for pregnant women to relieve pain and reduce fever. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology issued a statement condemning the administration’s announcement.
Calling the effort “irresponsible,” the group said it is “not backed by the full body of scientific evidence and dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children.”