Joe Rogan has publicly expressed support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former President Donald Trump in the ongoing debate over the safety of Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy. On his podcast, Rogan commented on viral videos showing pregnant women taking Tylenol, saying:
“I’ve been fascinated by these videos of pregnant women taking Tylenol to show Trump that they don’t believe in what RFK Jr. is saying, that it’s somehow or another anti-science. When this science came from Harvard, that’s where the study came from, he’s not making things up. And these people are like on TikTok, they’re pregnant women taking Tylenol.”
Rogan’s remarks highlight a growing public controversy surrounding claims made by Trump and RFK Jr. regarding the potential link between prenatal acetaminophen use and autism.
The Trump administration, alongside RFK Jr., has suggested that taking Tylenol during pregnancy may significantly increase the risk of autism in children. They have recommended that pregnant women avoid the medication unless absolutely necessary and are calling for changes in medical guidelines and warning labels on Tylenol packaging.
While some studies have explored potential associations between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes, experts caution that correlation does not equal causation. The claims made by Trump and RFK Jr. rely on a handful of small studies and anecdotal evidence while disregarding larger, more rigorous research. For instance, a 2024 Swedish study tracking 2.5 million children—including sibling pairs where only one was exposed to acetaminophen in utero—found no association with autism or ADHD.
Autism diagnoses have also changed dramatically over the past decades, explaining rising prevalence statistics without implicating medications like Tylenol. Expansions in diagnostic criteria, the recognition of the autism spectrum, and the introduction of standardized screening have all contributed to apparent increases in autism rates.
Medical professionals warn that avoiding fever reducers during pregnancy can be dangerous. High fevers have well-documented risks, including miscarriage and birth defects. Ignoring these medical realities could put both mother and child at risk. International health authorities, including those in the EU, Canada, and the UK, have explicitly advised that the FDA’s claims linking acetaminophen to autism are scientifically unjustified.
