American Families for Vaccines Statement on White House News Conference About Autism
Rejecting misinformation and reaffirming support for families
Yesterday, the Trump administration held a press conference ostensibly intended to explain “rising” rates of autism and other childhood conditions. Instead of advancing science, the President’s rambling remarks took aim at childhood vaccines, raised unfounded alarms about everyday medications and vaccines, and promoted treatments that lack sufficient validation.
Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician and vaccine researcher at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia called it “the most dangerously irresponsible press conference in the realm of public health in American history” in remarks to the Washington Post. The news conference was centered on what Trump incorrectly termed “a meteoric rise in autism,” restating an erroneous belief that autism diagnoses have spiked in recent years. In fact, the data show that the increase in autism diagnoses over the past several decades is not the result of a sudden surge in cases, but rather of better awareness, improved screening, and broader diagnostic criteria.
President Trump and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also stoked fears about childhood vaccines, citing wildly inaccurate claims about the childhood vaccine schedule. Trump stated, “And they pump so much stuff into those beautiful little babies, it's a disgrace. I don't see it. I think it's very bad. They're pumping — it looks like they're pumping into a horse. You have a little child, a little fragile child and you get a vat of 80 different vaccines, I guess, 80 different blends and they pump it in. So ideally, a woman won't take Tylenol.”
In fact, vaccines are administered to children over a period of 18 years, from birth to age 18, and the childhood vaccine schedule published by the American Academy of Pediatrics calls for 15 vaccines, many of which protect against more than one disease. These claims are not only unproven, they risk frightening parents away from trusted, evidence-based medical advice.
American Families for Vaccines strongly rejects the misleading claims issued by the President and backed by US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and we call on our lawmakers to remove Kennedy from office now.
Why This Is Harmful
It spreads misinformation. President Trump’s remarks leaned on disputed studies, personal opinions, and nonexistent citations. His claims about the MMRV vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine, childhood vaccine schedule, and assertions about Tylenol are equally unsupported, pushing unproven theories into the public conversation from the highest levels of government.
It stigmatizes autistic people. By framing autism as the result of parental choices or preventable “exposures,” the report fuels blame and confusion. This kind of narrative deepens stigma and distracts from what families and autistic people actually need: respect, understanding, and evidence-based care. Autistic people are our friends, colleagues, and loved ones, and they deserve better than to be defined by stigma instead of strengths.
It undermines trust in medicine. Suggesting that vaccines are not necessary or that common medicines are to blame for autism encourages families to distrust their doctors. That confusion endangers children by steering them away from lifesaving immunizations and safe, proven treatments. It can also encourage families to seek unproven, sometimes unregulated, alternative treatments, which can be unhelpful at best and toxic at worst.
It distracts from real solutions. Families caring for autistic children and adults need support services, high-quality research, and policies grounded in science. Instead, the federal government has diverted attention and resources toward speculation, alarmism, and politically motivated misinformation.
Our Commitment
Every family deserves clear, evidence-based information about health. We will continue to:
Support vaccines as one of the safest and most effective tools to protect children.
Stand with our friends, colleagues, and loved ones who are autistic or caring for autistic children and adults.
Respond when misinformation threatens public trust, stigmatizes families, or endangers children’s health.
In Closing
The news conference at the White House did not provide useful answers or advance the science of autism. Instead, it spread unproven claims about vaccines and Tylenol, which risks reinforcing stigma and undermines critical confidence in medical care. Dangerous misinformation not backed by science or medical expertise should never come from our nation’s highest office on health.
RFK Jr.’s dangerous anti-vaccine agenda has influenced messaging from our nation’s Office of the President. The continued exploitation of families’ hopes and fears for political gain puts every American at risk. Lawmakers must take action to hold Kennedy accountable before more harm is done.