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President Donald Trump has publicly echoed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s contentious claims, suggesting that a rise in autism diagnoses may be “artificially” induced, potentially by vaccines. This alignment surfaced during a recent cabinet meeting, where Trump, 79, engaged with Kennedy, 71, who currently serves as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy has long championed the theory that certain vaccines contribute to an increase in autism spectrum disorder, previously pointing to the COVID-19 vaccine as a possible factor. During Tuesday’s meeting, Trump commended Kennedy’s efforts on the “autism front,” calling the condition a “tremendous horror show.”
Upcoming Announcement Fuels Speculation
Secretary Kennedy confirmed plans to host a news conference in September, where he intends to present findings that he claims will support his longstanding theory linking vaccines to autism. Seated beside Trump, Kennedy reiterated figures suggesting a dramatic increase in diagnoses, asserting that more than one in every 13 boys born in America is now diagnosed with autism, a stark contrast to “less than one in 10,000 in 1971.” These statistics visibly surprised President Trump.
“Think of those numbers,” Trump remarked, cutting off Kennedy. “There has to be something artificially causing this, meaning a drug or something, and I know you’re looking very strongly at different things, and I hope you can come out with that as soon as possible.” He further added, “It’s not even believable that that could be… There has got to be something.” Trump hinted that an “official explanation” for the autism spike could emerge from Kennedy’s upcoming press briefing.
Scientific Consensus vs. Conspiracy
While autism rates have indeed seen a significant increase in the 21st century—federal researchers reported that 3 percent of all American eight-year-olds were diagnosed with autism in 2022, up from just 0.66 percent in 2000—the scientific community offers a different explanation. Most researchers and public health experts attribute this rise primarily to more widespread screening practices and the inclusion of a broader range of behaviors within the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder.
Claims suggesting a link between vaccines and autism are not substantiated by extensive scientific research. Dr. Paul A. Offit, a renowned pediatric immunologist and vaccine expert, has consistently dismissed such theories, likening the propagation of vaccine conspiracies to a “whack-a-mole strategy.” Despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, prominent figures like Kennedy and, now, the President continue to leverage these statistics to promote theories that implicate pharmaceutical companies.
The upcoming announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services is anticipated to reignite intense debate surrounding vaccine safety and the causes of autism, placing the administration at odds with established medical and scientific consensus.