Women told to ignore batty Donald Trump’s mad claim paracetamol can cause autism

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting hit out at Donald Trump’s claims about paracetamol causing autism in children, which he says there is “no evidence” to support

Mums-to-be have been urged to ignore batty comments from orange manbaby Donald Trump, who has claimed paracetamol can cause autism.

Expectant mothers should point-blank ignore Trump’s claims where he stated that the use of paracetamol in pregnancy could cause neurological issues for children once born.

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting hit out at the claims,which he says there is “no evidence” to support, and urged pregnant women to disregard the statement.

He said: “I trust doctors over President Trump, frankly, on this”, as he urged pregnant women not to pay “any attention whatsoever” to the US president.

Mr Streeting told ITV’s Lorraine: “I’ve just got to be really clear about this: there is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children. None.

“In fact, a major study was done back in 2024 in Sweden, involving 2.4 million children, and it did not uphold those claims.

“So I would just say to people watching, don’t pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine.

“In fact, don’t take even take my word for it, as a politician – listen to British doctors, British scientists, the NHS.”

US president Trump said there had been a “meteoric rise” in cases of autism and suggested that Tylenol – the American equivalent of paracetamol in the UK – is a potential cause.

He said the painkillers should not be taken during pregnancy, suggesting pregnant women should “tough it out” if feeling under the weather.

Trump said the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would be notifying all US doctors with new guidance about paracetamol in the coming months, adding: “Ideally, you don’t take it at all, but if you have to, if you can’t tough it out, if there’s a problem, you’re going to end up doing it.”

Autism campaigners and scientists in the UK have slammed the statement.

Mel Merritt, head of policy and campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said: “The incessant misinformation about autism from President Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr risks undermining decades of research by respected experts in the field.

“Understandably, autistic people will be dismayed and frightened by this announcement, and we would urge our government and the NHS to stand by autistic people and to condemn this misinformation.

“To do otherwise risks creating further fear, stigmatisation and harm.

“We urge anyone looking for information about autism to visit websites from trusted organisations such as the NHS and the National Autistic Society.”