Robert F. Kennedy Jr has found himself in piping hot water this week, after controversially alleging a direct link between circumcision and autism.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting in the White House on Thursday (9 Oct), the Health and Human Services Secretary cited the distribution of the painkilling drug Tylenol to young children following the surgery.
Kennedy told Donald Trump directly: "There’s two studies which show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, it’s highly likely, because they were given Tylenol."
Despite failing to detail which scientific investigations he's referring to, one of the the two that the politician is thought to be basing his conclusions on is a 2015 study of nearly 343,000 Gen Z boys in Denmark, which alleged that males who'd been circumcised were more likely to develop autism before the age of 10 compared to those who hadn't been.
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It's important to note, however, that the study's authors concluded at the time that it was the trauma of the circumcision that garnered an 'increased risk of serious neuro-developmental and psychological consequences', not the painkillers themselves.
The 71-year-old's claims come just weeks after the President himself advised pregnant women in the States to avoid Tylenol, insisting the medication had contributed to rising autism rates in children.
At the time, Kenvue - the manufacturers of Tylenol - denied Trump's comments, sharing in a statement that 'independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism.'
"The facts are that over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals and global health regulators, confirms there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism," representatives claimed.
The Republican administration is yet to be deterred, however, with Kennedy going on to warn press conference attendees: "The FDA is responding to clinical and laboratory studies that suggest a potential association between acetaminophen [paracetamol] used during pregnancy and adverse neuro-developmental outcomes, including later diagnosis for ADHD and autism."
Unsurprisingly, Kennedy's tenuous link between the medication and these behavioural conditions has sparked mass outrage online, with hordes of onlookers questioning how he has been able to land the Health and Human Services Secretary role with such views.
"What a WEIRD statement! Can y’all just stop putting your foot in your mouth?" one X user demanded. "Damn it, man. You are your own worst enemy, RFK. Just stop it. You’re doing great with all these other initiatives and then you lurch into yet another."
Another hit out on Instagram: "Lol what in the schlong kind of science fair project is this?"
"This guy has lost his mind," a third added of Kennedy.
Another continued: "He should just resign."
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Health, Politics
Rhianna Benson