UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting reportedly told British patients to ignore Donald Trump’s call for pregnant women to avoid Tylenol, known in Britain as paracetamol, in a rare instance of a British minister openly criticizing the US president.
At a White House event Monday, Trump linked acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, to autism, encouraging women to tough out fevers without taking the painkiller. The remarks, made alongside health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — a longtime critic of mainstream medicine — rattled doctors and drugmakers.
“Don’t pay attention at all to what Donald Trump says about medicine,” Streeting told ITV on Tuesday. “Trust your doctor, trust medical science. I trust doctors over President Trump,” he said.
Streeting’s remarks marked one of the sharpest rebukes the UK government has delivered to Trump during his second term. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration has generally tried to keep disagreements with the White House behind the scenes, particularly on areas like tariffs and Russia’s war in Ukraine. That cautious approach was evident during last week’s state visit.
The UK’s medicines regulator, known as the MHRA, issued its own warning against following Trump’s advice. “There is no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children,” it said in a statement on Tuesday. The regulator also stressed that ignoring medical guidance and avoiding treatment could put unborn babies at risk.
"This will save lives." @WesStreeting spoke to @Lorraine @ITV about how Jess's Rule, inspired by the tragic death of Jessica Brady, will encourage GPs to rethink patient concerns after three appointments, and catch serious illnesses sooner.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) September 23, 2025
Find out more:https://t.co/RyC989lYdB pic.twitter.com/sz3LEN1w4M
For Streeting, the comments come at a sensitive political moment. While he is the government’s lead voice on health policy, he is also seen as a possible successor to Starmer, whose leadership is under strain. That means every public move from Streeting is being read not just for its policy impact but for what it might mean for his political future.
The clash over Trump’s claims highlights a growing divide between medical science and political messaging. Acetaminophen has long been one of the most commonly recommended pain relievers during pregnancy, and studies reviewed by health agencies in both the US and the UK have consistently found it safe when used as directed. Trump’s suggestion that it could be tied to autism came without supporting evidence and put him at odds with the scientific consensus.
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting told British patients to ignore Trump’s call for pregnant women to avoid Tylenol:
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) September 23, 2025
“Don’t pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine” Streeting said pic.twitter.com/hbNwfaZgVT
Doctors and medical groups quickly moved to calm fears. Many emphasized that untreated fevers during pregnancy can cause serious complications and that acetaminophen remains a safe and effective option. Drugmakers worried that unfounded claims could shake confidence in one of the world’s most widely used medicines.
Streeting’s direct dismissal of Trump’s remarks was more than just a medical defense. It underscored the balancing act the Starmer government faces in managing relations with Washington while protecting public trust in science at home. By telling British patients flatly not to listen to the US president, Streeting signaled that there are limits to diplomatic restraint when public health is at stake.
As the debate continues, the advice from UK authorities is clear. Trust medical professionals and established science, not political soundbites. For now, paracetamol remains a mainstay in pregnancy care, and officials on both sides of the Atlantic say that is not changing.
