Learning English from the News

Upper intermediate level

Trump's unproven autism claim

Episode 250924 / 24 Sep 2025

(Photo by Andrew Harnik and Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)

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The story

US President Donald Trump has said that there is a link between autism and the pain-relieving drug Tylenol, also known as paracetamol.

Medical experts disagree with these claims, with some calling the president's comments dangerous.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, who are experts in women’s health, said the announcement was "unsettling" and not based on "reliable data".

News headlines

Trump and RFK Jr. make autism announcement as Tylenol maker and medical experts push back
CBS News

British scientists inject large dose of scepticism into Trump's paracetamol and autism claims
ITV News

Donald Trump's autism claim debunked after paracetamol warning to pregnant women
The Mirror

Key words and phrases

push back
disagree with or resist something

  • Scientists are pushing back on claims that climate change isn’t real.

dose
a strong amount of something

  • My colleague at work is funny – she always gives me a daily dose of laughter.

debunk
show that something is untrue

  • Scientists have used maths to debunk recent UFO videos.

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