This week, President Trump made a questionable assertion linking Tylenol to rising autism rates, further showcasing his antagonism toward the medical community that he often dismisses as elitists. It’s quite reminiscent of when he pondered publicly about the possibility of injecting bleach as a treatment for COVID-19.
During a disjointed press conference, it became clear that anyone within Trump’s inner circle feels unable to challenge even his most absurd conspiracies. One of his puzzling claims was that Cuba doesn’t have autism rates because residents can’t afford Tylenol. This bizarre statement seems to join the ranks of former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s infamous comment about the absence of homosexuals in Iran, as one of the most ludicrous things a leader has ever said. And still, that wasn’t even the wildest thing Trump said that day!
On Monday, Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Medicare and Medicaid administrator, managed to embarrass themselves further. They reminded Americans of the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle decades of progress in science and medicine brick by brick.
Many of Trump’s claims have prompted immediate pushback from healthcare professionals, scientists, and everyday people dealing with autism and related challenges. His misleading assertion that the Amish, who allegedly don’t vaccinate, are free of autism has circulated as a popular anti-vaccine myth for some time; however, no credible research supports this idea. In fact, a 2011 study published in Pediatrics found that a significant majority—86%—of Amish parents reported vaccinating their children.
I have to admit, his claims about Cuba are somewhat partially correct. According to 2021 data, there were about 690 cases of autism diagnosed per 100,000 people. Trump is onto something regarding the lack of healthcare resources lowering access to autism screenings in Cuba. So, the true prevalence of autism there could be closer to the global average. And yes, Cubans can actually purchase Tylenol just like Americans.
This misinformation campaign threatens to complicate healthcare decisions for American families. It’s even more alarming that Trump and his counterparts seem to thrive on their disdain for experts and their fondness for conspiracy theories. This undercuts the scientific method and places public health in jeopardy, alongside America’s standing in the global scientific community.
Earlier this year, the National Institutes of Health announced a cap on indirect costs for grants, which limits funds for institutions engaged in cutting-edge research. While a federal judge blocked this decision in April, the White House continued to find new ways to undermine the NIH. In the months that followed, Trump suspended over $500 million in funding to UCLA, which included numerous grants for scientific research. Recently, a federal judge ruled that this freeze was illegal and demanded the restoration of those funds immediately.
Innovative programs like the All of Us Research Program have seen their budgets shrink under an administration uninterested in advancing scientific discovery. This initiative recruited over 850,000 participants to create a substantial genetic database for research. Supported by data from this program, hundreds of groundbreaking studies promote innovation in both public and private sectors. Unfortunately, this invaluable work is now in jeopardy due to the significant budget cuts initiated by Trump.
Science thrives on humility and the willingness to acknowledge what remains unknown. Yet, instead of embracing this approach, Trump and his administration respond with hostility toward knowledgeable experts, leading to the deterioration of America’s scientific foundation right before our eyes.
The legacy of scientific leadership in the U.S. has long been a target of international envy. It now faces a risk from those who feel threatened by concepts they fail to grasp. If America relinquishes its position as a leader in science and medicine, we could find ourselves in a rapid downward spiral with no way back. Our children deserve a brighter future than that.
Max Burns is a veteran democratic strategist and founder of three-time strategies.
