Trump lists reasons why Amish and Cuba don't suffer from autism

US President Donald Trump sparked debate Monday night after claiming that the Amish community and Cuba do not suffer from autism, linking it to lifestyle and environmental factors. Trump also promoted unverified claims linking painkiller Tylenol to autism without offering any evidence.

Trump repeatedly urged pregnant women to avoid using Tylenol, the most popular form of acetaminophen, even though the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has long recommended it as a safe pain relief option during pregnancy, reported news agency AP.

ALSO READ: Trump orders FDA warning on Tylenol during pregnancy amid autism concerns despite scientific evidence


Trump, joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services chief Dr. Mehmet Oz, at a press conference, claimed that rising autism rates suggest 'there’s something artificial, they’re taking something'.

"Ideally you don't take it at all," he said. "With Tylenol, don't take it," Trump said, saying you should only take it with a bad fever. "I think you shouldn't take it," he said, saying you shouldn't give Tylenol to children either, going on to say autism is ‘artificially induced’.

"Don't take Tylenol," Trump said, going on to share, "I'm making these statements from me, not for these doctors"

He went on to assert that the Amish community has no autism and that Cuba has 'virtually no autism' attributing it to the absence of Tylenol due to lack of money.

"There's a rumor and I don't know if it's so or not that in Cuba, they don't have Tylenol because they don't have the money for Tylenol. And they have virtually no autism," Trump said at the White House news conference.

"The Amish, as an example. They have essentially no autism," Trump made the remark about the traditionalist community, recognised for their use of horse-drawn carriages and their avoidance of modern technology.

WHAT IS AUTISM

Autism is not a disease but a complex developmental condition, commonly referred to as autism spectrum disorder, which affects individuals in diverse ways. It may involve challenges with language, learning, or social and emotional skills. In severe cases, people with profound autism may be nonverbal and have intellectual disabilities, though most experience much milder effects. Over the past several decades, reported autism rates have steadily increased.

WHO ARE THE AMISH?

The Amish are a traditionalist Christian group known for their simple living and plain dress. The Amish way of life is centered on humility, close family ties, strong community bonds, and a commitment to remaining separate from the modern world. They primarily live in rural areas of the Midwest and East Coast, with large communities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. The Amish typically use horse-drawn carts instead of cars, avoid electricity from public power lines, and uphold strong values of hard work and mutual support.

WHAT IS TYLENOL

Tylenol, the brand name for acetaminophen in the US, is a widely used over-the-counter drug used to relieve moderate pain and reduce fever. It is also known as paracetamol.