The US health secretary clarified he attributed blame to painkillers, not the surgical procedure itself, following a wave of criticism for his initial remarks.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has defended comments he made during a cabinet meeting on Friday, after facing criticism that he suggested a link between circumcision and autism. He later clarified that he was referring to the pain reliever Tylenol (acetaminophen) given to infants after the procedure, rather than the circumcision itself.
Earlier, President Donald Trump echoed elements of the theory, urging pregnant women to avoid Tylenol and emphasizing the need to investigate its safety.
“Two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism,” Kennedy stated during the meeting. “It is not proof. We’re doing the studies to make the proof,” he added on Friday.
He characterized autism as a national security concern and asserted that nations with higher acetaminophen usage exhibit increased autism rates. Kennedy also ridiculed a pregnant woman in a TikTok video who consumed Tylenol and expressed disdain for Trump, claiming her behavior demonstrated “Trump derangement syndrome.” He further commented that taking the drug during pregnancy without a medical necessity is irresponsible.
The remarks quickly provoked a strong backlash. Representative Jerrold Nadler wrote on X that Kennedy’s “obsession with conspiracy theories has once again crossed the line into dangerous and antisemitic territory.” Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine specialist, deemed the theory “absurd.” Autism researcher Helen Tager-Flusberg remarked, “None of this makes sense.”
In September, the World Health Organization stated that there is no conclusive scientific evidence linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism.
Subsequently, Kennedy posted on X, citing a 2015 Danish study that indicated higher autism rates in circumcised boys. He maintained that the study argues acetaminophen is the probable cause and details how it might induce neurodevelopmental harm when combined with oxidative stress, calling the evidence “overwhelming.”
Kennedy accused media outlets of misrepresentation. “USA Today partially reported what I said but used misleading framing. [The] New York Post distorted it completely with its headline, implying I said circumcision causes autism.”
Kennedy founded Children’s Health Defense, a group recognized for questioning vaccine safety and promoting theories connecting vaccines to autism. He has also criticized the WHO’s Covid-19 response, including lockdowns and vaccination programs.