Trump Set to Announce Autism-Related Findings at White House Event

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Alex Wong, Getty Images

President Donald Trump is expected to unveil what he has described as a major announcement on autism during a White House event on September 22. The president previewed the announcement during a rally in Arizona the day before, calling it “one of the biggest in the history of the country” and claiming, “I think we found an answer to autism.”

The event, scheduled for 4 p.m., will include Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, who currently heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. According to reports from Politico and The Washington Post, the officials are expected to address concerns about Tylenol use during pregnancy and its potential connection to autism in children.

Tylenol’s parent company, Kenvue, issued a strong rebuttal, saying there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen—the drug’s active ingredient—to autism. The company emphasized that a decade of research has consistently shown acetaminophen to be the safest pain reliever for pregnant women when taken as directed.

The announcement may also include discussion of a possible treatment involving leucovorin, a drug being studied for its potential benefits in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Autism, clinically referred to as autism spectrum disorder, is characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Cases have risen significantly in recent decades. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that by 2020, one in 36 U.S. children aged eight had been diagnosed, up from one in 150 in 2000. Researchers generally point to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, though no single cause has been established.

While some studies have linked frequent acetaminophen use during pregnancy with autism and ADHD, others—including a large 2024 Swedish study involving nearly two million children—found no such association. Earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed hundreds of lawsuits against Tylenol makers, ruling that evidence tying the drug to autism was not admissible.

Health experts caution against oversimplifying autism’s causes. “There will never be a sound-bite answer,” said Helen Tager-Flusberg, a Boston University psychologist who studies neurodevelopmental conditions. Medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, continue to recommend acetaminophen as safe for use during pregnancy.

As Trump prepares his announcement, families, health professionals, and policymakers await details on what could become a highly debated turning point in autism research and public health policy.