President Trump shared figures inflating the spike in autism in a post Tuesday morning promoting his pick to lead the Health and Human Services agency, highlighting a key data point in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s debunked theories around a link between autism and vaccines.
“20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT’S 1 in 34. WOW! Something’s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Autism diagnoses have been rising, though Trump misstated on Tuesday in his Truth Social post the extent of the increase. About 1 in 36 children now have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), compared to about 1 in 150 in 2000.
Trump has repeatedly drawn a false connection between vaccines and autism rates— saying in December that he thinks there are “problems with vaccines”— and has suggested his administration, including Kennedy if confirmed, would investigate a debunked link between the two.
The Senate Finance Committee voted Tuesday morning to advance Kennedy in a party-line vote, despite Democrats railing against his longtime promotion of vaccine misinformation. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who expressed reservations about Kennedy during committee hearings last week, ultimately voted yes on his confirmation.
Kennedy has promoted the theory that childhood vaccines have led to an increase in autism and chronic illnesses, despite studies repeatedly showing otherwise.
Experts have attributed the increase in autism rates to better awareness of symptoms in children and changing criteria to diagnose ASD in kids.
Senate Democrats grilled Kennedy last week in his confirmation hearing over his controversial stances on vaccines and shifting position on abortion, but neither issue proved persuasive to the Senate Finance Republicans. Kennedy could still be voted down in a full Senate vote.
Kennedy also has a financial stake in a lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Merck over its vaccine that protects against human papillomavirus. He told Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in the hearing last week that he will not profit from the litigation, if confirmed.
The White House kept the pressure up on GOP senators on Tuesday.
“There are tens of millions of Americans who are hopeful that RFK Jr. will be the next HHS secretary and we expect all senate republicans to stand tough and strong and vote for him,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Nathaniel Weixel contributed to this report.
