Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 23: US President Donald Trump’s latest claim that pregnant women should avoid Tylenol over alleged links to autism—swiftly debunked by medical experts—has once again drawn attention to controversial health statements from Trump and his administration, including remarks by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
During his first term (2017-21) and the early months of his second, Trump frequently made public health statements and offered medical advice without evidence, including promoting hydroxychloroquine as a “COVID-19 cure.” Kennedy, confirmed as Health Secretary in February, has also made contentious claims, such as insisting that unpasteurised milk is safer than pasteurised milk, despite FDA warnings about dangerous germs like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria.
On vaccines
Kennedy, founder of the anti-vaccine nonprofit Children’s Health Defence, has repeatedly questioned routine vaccinations and called the Covid vaccine “the deadliest ever made,” despite CDC data showing no credible links to fatal cardiac episodes. In April, he promised a cure for autism within five months, claiming exposures causing autism would be eliminated by September. The Tylenol warning appears to be a continuation of this pattern.
Trump made his statement on Monday from the Oval Office, flanked by Kennedy and Medicare and Medicaid chief Mehmet Oz. Addressing pregnant women, he said, “Don’t take Tylenol. There’s no downside… don’t take it… don’t give it to the baby after the baby is born,” noting his guidance was based on “common sense” rather than science. Alongside this, he called for an overhaul of children’s vaccination protocols, suggesting delays or splits in vaccines like MMR and Hepatitis B—a move experts warn could leave children vulnerable to preventable illnesses.
On raw milk
In June last year, Kennedy publicly stated he consumes only unpasteurised milk. Pasteurisation kills harmful microorganisms, ensuring safety for human consumption. Experts warn raw milk can transmit dangerous bacteria, particularly to people with weakened immune systems. Despite CDC advisories and federal restrictions, about 30 US states still allow its sale.
When Trump appointed Kennedy, he encouraged him to “go wild” and said the Kennedy nephew would “Make America Healthy Again!” Kennedy’s tenure has also been marked by bizarre personal anecdotes, including a claim that a worm once entered and partially ate his brain.
Medical authorities, including the CDC, have repeatedly cautioned against listening to unverified health advice from Trump and Kennedy, emphasizing the potential risks to public health.