Overview

The Autism Announcement or the Tylenol Causes Autism Press Conference refers to a press conference held by U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Health and Human Services RFK Jr. on September 22nd, 2025, in which they claimed that taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) while pregnant can increase the risk of the child getting autism. Additionally, it was announced that the medication Leucovorin can be used to treat some symptoms of autism, namely Cerebral Folate Deficiency, and that the government had launched the Autism Data Science Initiative (ADSI) to further research autism. The press conference proved controversial, with some refuting the claims that Tylenol can cause autism, including medical professionals. The conference also inspired memes, including the "Autism Announcement" meme, which uses a photo of a Fox News graphic of Trump and RFK Jr.'s faces next to bold text reading, "AUTISM ANNOUNCEMENT," usually from Fox News.

Background

Links Between Autism and Tylenol

Prior to the September 22nd, 2025, announcement by the White House, modern research indicated that there was no link between autism and Tylenol (also known as acetaminophen or paracetamol use during pregnancy.

For example, on April 9th, 2024, the JAMA Network^[1] released a study claiming there was no link between Tylenol use and autism.

Announcement Teased at Charlie Kirk's Memorial Service

On September 21st, 2025, during the public memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, for Charlie Kirk after his assassination, President Trump announced suddenly, " I think we found an answer to autism, how about that?"^[2]

Developments

Autism Announcement Press Conference

On September 22nd, 2025, President Trump held a press conference at the White House, alongside RFK Jr., the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. During the press conference, it was alleged that taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy can cause autism in children. It was also announced that the FDA had approved the use of the folate-based drug leucovorin to treat speech-related deficits in autistic children with cerebral folate deficiency.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services^[3] website released a fact sheet summarizing the announcements made at the press conference that day. The press conference was also streamed on numerous networks, including the Associated Press YouTube^[4] channel, garnering over 395,000 views in a day.

Backlash

The announcement caused significant backlash from medical professionals, who refuted the claim that autism and Tylenol are linked and found it irresponsible for the Trump administration to make the claim with no new evidence suggesting a link between the two.

Autism Science Foundation's Statement

On September 22nd, 2025, the Autism Science Foundation^[5] published a statement claiming they are "deeply concerned" by the announcement, with Autism Science Foundation Chief Science Officer Dr. Alycia Halladay quoted as saying:

"Any association between acetaminophen and autism is based on limited, conflicting, and inconsistent science and is premature […] This claim risks undermining public health while also misleading families who deserve clear, factual information. For many years, RFK and President Trump have shared their belief that vaccines cause autism, but this is also not supported by the science, which has shown no relationship between vaccines and autism."

Alison Singer, the President of the Autism Science Foundation, was quoted as saying:

"We are unsure why this announcement came today and how the conclusions were drawn […] No new data or scientific studies were presented or shared. No new studies have been published in the literature. No new presentations on this topic were made at scientific or medical conferences. Instead, President Trump talked about what he thinks and feels without offering scientific evidence. He said 'tough it out', meaning don’t take Tylenol or give it to your child. It took me straight back to when moms were blamed for autism. If you can’t take the pain or deal with a fever, then it’s your fault if your child has autism. That was shocking. Simply shocking."

World Health Organization's Statement

On September 23rd, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement claiming that there is no evidence linking Tylenol or vaccines to autism. WHO representative Tarik Jašarević was quoted by Reuters^[13] as saying, "The evidence remains inconsistent […] We know that vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines, as I said, save countless lives. So this is something that science has proven, and these things should not be really questioned."

Online Reactions

"Autism Announcement" Fox News Banner Memes

On September 22nd, 2025, X^[6] user @nick_lindquist posted a photograph of their TV screen set to Fox News right before the press conference, writing, "Amazing out of context frame," garnering over 101,000 likes and 5,800 reposts in a day. The photo shows a Fox News banner or graphic reading "AUTISM ANNOUNCEMENT" next to President Trump and RFK Jr.'s faces.

The banner inspired memes that day. For example, that same day, X^[7] user @Liv_Agar posted a photo of the banner, writing, "How it feels telling the group chat I don’t want to eat at the restaurant they planned because I don’t like the texture of the food they serve," garnering over 177,000 likes in a day.

Also on September 22nd, 2025, X^[8] user @uncledoomer posted a Photoshop edit of the banner replacing RFK Jr. with a J.D. Vance Babyface Edits meme, garnering over 68,000 likes in a day.

Later that day, Threads^[9] user @jayjurden posted a version of the meme reading, "This is what I call it whenever I shout out a random fact about the X-Men:," garnering over 2,300 likes in a day.

Tylenol Causes Autism Memes

After the announcement, memes about Tylenol causing autism started going viral on social media in late September 2025.

On September 22nd, 2025, X^[10] user @KennethDredd posted an AI-generated image of RFK Jr. as Hans Landa from Inglorious Basterds, referencing the You Are Sheltering Enemies meme, writing, "You’re hiding Tylenol under the floorboards, are you not?" garnering over 80,000 likes in a day.

Later that day, X^[11] user @AutismCapital posted a Pepe edit referencing the Please Be Patient meme in which he wears a hat reading, "Please be patient my mom took tylenol," garnering over 17,000 likes in a day.

Also on September 22nd, X^[12] user @ilovewikipedia posted, "I am pregnant taking 10 Tylenol a day in hopes my son becomes the greatest Magic the Gathering player in the world," garnering over 242,000 likes in a day.

Chugging Tylenol TikTok Trend

The Chugging Tylenol TikTok Trend refers to a TikTok trend about taking large doses of the pain relief medication Tylenol as a reaction to the U.S. government under President Donald Trump announcing that taking Tylenol during pregnancy could lead to an increased risk of autism in the child. The trend inspired viral discourse about President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Autism Announcement" and whether or not their claim had scientific merit and accuracy.

Search Interest

External References