President Donald Trump is set to deliver what he has described as a major announcement on autism from the Oval Office on Monday, previewing the plan during remarks at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. He suggested the initiative could represent a breakthrough in understanding the condition.
According to reports, the announcement is expected to focus on two factors: the use of acetaminophen, commonly sold as Tylenol, during pregnancy, and deficiencies in folate, a vitamin critical for fetal brain and spinal development. The plan is also expected to highlight folinic acid, a form of folate known as leucovorin, as a potential treatment to help reduce autism symptoms.
The proposal comes amid ongoing debate in the medical community. While some studies have suggested associations between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism, large-scale research, including a recent JAMA study of over 2 million children, has found no evidence of increased risk. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists maintains that acetaminophen is considered safe when used as needed during pregnancy, emphasizing that untreated fever and pain can pose serious risks to both mother and baby.
Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue has defended the drug’s safety record, pointing to decades of research reviewed by global regulators and health authorities. The company has urged pregnant women to consult their doctors before using any over-the-counter medications.
The timing of Trump’s announcement comes as autism rates in the U.S. continue to rise, with the CDC reporting one in 31 children diagnosed by age 8 in 2022. Experts largely attribute this increase to the expansion of diagnostic criteria and improved screening, rather than a sudden change in environmental risk factors.
Trump’s remarks will likely add to the ongoing policy debate shaped in part by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has pledged federal investment into autism research while reviving controversial theories about environmental triggers.
Source: CNN