The maker of Tylenol has pushed back against resurfaced claims questioning the safety of its widely used pain reliever for pregnant women, as political voices and medical experts clash over the issue.

Kenvue, the parent company of Tylenol, issued a clarification after a 2017 social media post resurfaced suggesting that none of its products were recommended during pregnancy. The company explained that the post, which has since been deleted, was incomplete and taken out of context.

“Our guidance has not changed: acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy,” Kenvue said in a statement. “However, we recommend pregnant women do not take any over-the-counter medication, including acetaminophen, without consulting their doctor first.”

The renewed debate was fueled this week when former U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged pregnant women to avoid acetaminophen, citing unproven claims that its use may cause autism. Trump, speaking at a White House press conference, declared, “Don’t take Tylenol… fight like hell not to take it,” though he did not provide evidence to support his warning.

Medical experts swiftly rejected the claims. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) stressed that no credible scientific studies link acetaminophen use during pregnancy with autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders.

“In more than two decades of research on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that its use in any trimester causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children,” said ACOG President Dr. Steven Fleischman.

Fleischman emphasized that acetaminophen remains one of the few safe and effective options for managing pain and fever during pregnancy. He cautioned that untreated high fevers, especially early in pregnancy, have been tied to serious birth defects, including neural tube defects and heart conditions.

The controversy highlights the challenges pregnant women face in navigating conflicting health advice—particularly when public figures amplify unverified claims. For now, leading medical authorities continue to affirm acetaminophen’s role as a safe treatment option when used under medical guidance.