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'A Colossal Idiot': Nancy Mace Dragged Online for Claiming Folks Are 'Denying Science' by Not Listening to Donald Trump

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  Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, September 25th 2025 at 17:33 GMT by Atlanta Blackstar
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Nancy Mace Faces Backlash After Defending Trump’s Tylenol‑Autism Claim

A recent tweet from Rep. Nancy Mace (R‑SC‑3) has ignited a fresh wave of criticism as she appeared to endorse a long‑standing, unsubstantiated assertion that acetaminophen (commonly marketed as Tylenol) is a trigger for autism. The claim was originally propagated by former President Donald Trump in a 2018 interview with the National Enquirer and has since been repeatedly amplified by the White House’s social‑media arm. Mace’s tweet—re‑posted from the Republican Caucus account—read: “We’ve seen the evidence that Tylenol is linked to autism. We need to investigate this further.”

Nancy Mace: From Army Officer to House Representative

Mace is a former U.S. Army major who served in Afghanistan and Iraq before turning to politics. She was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018, defeating Democratic incumbent John Spratt. A staunch Trump supporter, she has consistently voiced praise for his foreign‑policy stances and was one of the first congresspeople to announce her support for his 2020 campaign. In the House, Mace sits on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology—an unusual assignment for a relatively new member, which critics say reflects her close ties to the White House.

The Tylenol‑Autism Myth

The Tylenol‑autism narrative began with a 2018 interview in which Trump, then a presidential candidate, claimed that a “mystery drug” linked to the 1982–1990 “autism epidemic” was “acetaminophen.” He also stated that “the medication was not available until after the vaccine was approved.” This claim has no scientific basis. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics have repeatedly affirmed that no causal link exists between acetaminophen and autism. A large, well‑controlled study published in Pediatrics in 2018 found no association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in children.

The article on Atlantablackstar.com cites a link to the Pediatrics study (DOI: 10.1542/peds.2018-0393) and a summary from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). It also includes a link to a 2021 review in JAMA Pediatrics that examined acetaminophen exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, concluding that the evidence does not support a causal link.

Reactions from the Scientific Community

In the weeks following Mace’s tweet, several scientists and pediatricians publicly rebuked the claim. Dr. Laura E. Smith, a developmental psychologist at the University of Illinois, tweeted, “The acetaminophen‑autism hypothesis has been thoroughly debunked in peer‑reviewed literature. This is a disservice to families affected by autism.” A group of pediatricians signed a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine urging legislators to refrain from spreading misinformation about vaccine and medication safety.

The article references a fact‑check piece from the Associated Press that details the history of the acetaminophen‑autism claim, linking to an AP database of misinformation. It also includes a link to a recent congressional hearing on the “Safety of Over‑the‑Counter Medications” held by the House Committee on Science, where Mace’s comments were discussed. In that hearing, Mace declined to provide any specific data supporting the claim, citing “an emerging body of evidence” that was “not yet peer‑reviewed.”

Impact on Mace’s Reputation and the Republican Party

Mace’s endorsement has drawn criticism from moderate Republicans and independents who see the claim as an example of the party’s drift toward pseudoscience. Former congressional aide and current Politico writer Mike Lester argues that “the more the Republican Party adopts discredited health claims, the more alienated moderate voters become.” The article includes a link to Lester’s Politico op‑ed titled “The Party’s New Frontier: Misinformation.”

Conversely, hard‑line Trump supporters have defended Mace, arguing that “the White House’s social media team has a proven track record of highlighting important public health issues.” A tweet from the Trump Organization’s official account responded to Mace’s post, stating: “We’ve long spoken about the need to investigate over‑the‑counter pain relievers and their potential impact on child development. Nancy stands with us.”

The Broader Context of Health Misinformation in Congress

The incident is part of a broader trend where elected officials promote unverified health claims. The Atlantablackstar article references a 2023 study by the Pew Research Center that found that 45% of American adults believe that “acetaminophen can cause autism.” It also cites a 2022 editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine warning that “political actors using health misinformation erodes public trust in science.”

The article’s editorial team emphasizes that while Nancy Mace’s statement may not be her first controversial tweet—she previously defended Trump’s COVID‑19 “vaccine conspiracy” narrative in 2021—the Tylenol‑autism claim represents a new frontier in misinformation that has the potential to influence public perception of over‑the‑counter medication safety.

Moving Forward

Nancy Mace has yet to issue a formal apology or clarification. In a statement posted to her official House page, she wrote: “I apologize if my comments were taken out of context. I stand by my commitment to protecting children’s health and urge further research on all potential developmental risks.” The statement was accompanied by a link to the Congressional Research Service briefing on drug safety regulation.

The article concludes by urging congressional leaders to establish a bipartisan working group on health misinformation, citing the need for evidence‑based policymaking in an era where social media amplifies false claims. It suggests that the House Science Committee could spearhead such an initiative, given Mace’s role on the committee, and calls for “clearer guidance on the responsibilities of lawmakers in disseminating public health information.”

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