In a surprising twist from within his own party, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has stepped up to question the Trump administration’s recent alert tying Tylenol use during pregnancy to higher autism risks in kids. The South Dakota Republican didn’t hold back during his chat on CNN, making it clear he’s got serious doubts about how this could play out for expectant mothers across America.
Thune, who’s no stranger to tough calls in Washington, came across as wary when pressed on the issue. He pointed out that while the administration is leaning on certain studies, plenty of folks in the medical world aren’t buying it hook, line, and sinker.
“Well, I’m obviously very concerned about that,” Thune said when questioned by CNN about how the announcement from the Trump admin could affect the health of pregnant women and their children.
Diving deeper, Thune stressed the need to let hard facts lead the way in health matters. He argued that jumping to conclusions without solid backing could do more harm than good, especially when it comes to something as common as pain relief for pregnant women.
“I think that science ought to guide these discussions, these conversations and our decision making around our health,” he stated. “There are studies out there that they reference – but again, I think there are an awful lot of people in the medical community who would come to a different conclusion about the use of Tylenol.”
He didn’t stop there, calling for caution in how these claims get rolled out. “We ought to be very guarded in making broad assertions and make sure that they are well grounded in science and medicine and where we’re taking the consultation advice of experts in the field and ensuring that these things are all well documented,” Thune said.
This all stems from Monday’s big reveal by President Trump, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and other key health figures in the administration. They dropped the bombshell that acetaminophen—the stuff that powers Tylenol— ramps up the chances of autism big time.
Trump and his team backed it up with a fact sheet highlighting research that suggests moms popping these pills, particularly toward the end of pregnancy, might set their little ones up for brain-related issues down the road.
The White House referenced several studies that they claim show that “acetaminophen use in pregnant women, especially late in pregnancy, may cause long-term neurological effects in their children.”
Pushing back hard are groups like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Tylenol’s parent company, Kenvue. They’ve flat-out rejected the administration’s take, saying it doesn’t hold water.
Thune circled back to trust in government health calls, putting the onus on Kennedy to rebuild faith by sticking to the science.
“The secretary has a responsibility, an obligation, to restore and return the trust of the American people in the decision making process there, and I think the way to do that is to make sure that decisions are grounded in science,” Thune said.
He’s all in on keeping watch, demanding clear answers and open books to make sure no one’s playing fast and loose with the facts.
“There needs to be oversight, there needs to be accountability, and there needs to be transparency into this decision making process [to] ensure that it is governed by science,” he stated.
Not to be outdone, Sen. Bill Cassidy from Louisiana—a real doctor who runs the Senate health policy committee—jumped in on Tuesday. He slammed the idea, saying the bulk of proof just isn’t there to connect acetaminophen to the rise in autism cases. Cassidy fired off a demand for Kennedy to cough up the raw data behind the claim.
“The concern is that women will be left with no options to manage pain in pregnancy,” the senator said in a post on X. “We must be compassionate to this problem.”
