Trump's unfounded claims heap new stress on household brand name Tylenol
[September 24, 2025]
By TOM MURPHY and MICHELLE CHAPMAN
President Donald Trump blasted Tylenol this week, promoting unproven
links between the pain reliever and autism and pushing the
well-established treatment into another national image crisis.
“Don’t take Tylenol,” Trump instructed pregnant women around a dozen
times during a White House news conference. He also urged mothers not to
give infants the drug, known by the generic name acetaminophen in the
U.S. or paracetamol in other countries.
The attack on Tylenol by the U.S. president was unprecedented but not
exactly new territory for one of the world’s most common pain relievers.
Tylenol already has faced dozens of lawsuits regarding the autism claim,
and it dealt with cyanide poisoning s in the 1980s that led to a product
recall.
Some studies have raised the possibility that taking the
over-the-counter painkiller in pregnancy might be associated with a risk
of autism — but many others haven’t found a connection.
The attack from Trump could invite more litigation and lead customers to
switch to alternatives. But the maker of Tylenol, Kenvue Inc., is
refuting Trump’s challenge, and analysts think loyalty to a product that
has been on the market since the 1950s may ultimately limit damage.
Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, has long been one of
the most popular pain relievers and fever reducers in the U.S., used by
upwards of 100 million Americans annually.
Tylenol had been made by Johnson & Johnson for years before the health
care giant spun its consumer products division into a separate company
called Kenvue in 2023 because it was thought that the companies could
function more efficiently if they were independent from each other.
Aside from Tylenol, the consumer health company makes Band-Aids,
Listerine and other household brand names.
Kenvue, which has already struggled this year with disappointing
financial results and a CEO switch, has said it faces litigation in
federal court over the autism claims. It noted in an annual filing
earlier this year that many of those claims have been dismissed but are
being appealed.
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Extra Strength Tylenol is shown in Carmel, Ind., Tuesday, Sept. 23,
2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
 Citi Investment Research analyst
Filippo Falorni wrote that he sees a limited risk of new lawsuits
after the dismissal of the previous claims. But he thinks “there
could be risk to Tylenol consumption given the negative headlines.”
Kenvue is fighting that. The company’s website about Tylenol notes
that “credible, independent scientific data” shows no proven link
between acetaminophen and autism.
It also links to statements from several medical associations
discrediting any connection.
Ultimately, Morningstar analyst Keonhee Kim said he doesn’t expect a
lasting sales impact on such an established brand.
“I think consumer loyalty and brand trust in the consumer health
care space is usually stronger compared to some other, traditional
(consumer products) categories,” he said.
Shares of Kenvue had shed about 20% of their value so far this year.
The stock slipped as the week started with investors awaiting
Trump’s news conference.
But shares rallied nearly 3% on Tuesday, as investors realized
things could have been worse. Falorni said some had worried that
Tylenol would be banned or that new data establishing a direct link
between acetaminophen and autism would be released.
No new data was released Monday.
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AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone contributed to this report.
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