Donald Trump revealed he thinks ‘they’ve found the answer’ to autism in a shocking sidetrack during a speech at Charlie Kirk's memorial.
During his speech at the funeral service for the 31-year-old, who was fatally shot on September 10, the POTUS said: "Tomorrow we are going to have the biggest medical announcement in the history of the country… I think we have an answer to autism.
"I’ve been bugging everybody over there. Get the answer to autism. How to help children, how to prevent it—biggest priority for families."
Autism, a lifelong developmental condition that an estimated one in 31 children has, is thought to be over three times more common among boys than girls, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Studies have found ASD exists within all socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups and, despite conspiracy theorists’ claims, there is extensive existing research showing no link between pharmaceuticals, vaccinations and autism, as per CNN Health.
Earlier this year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who has served as US President Donald Trump’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, said that he and his team would get to the root of the so-called ‘autism epidemic’.
He alleged ‘hundreds of scientists’ would be studying the apparent cause of ASD and that the HHS would ‘eliminate’ anything found to be causing autism, as per ABC News.
The politician also claimed that he believed autism was ‘coming from an environmental toxin’.
He alleged: “Somebody made it and put that environmental toxin into our air or water or medicines or food.”
This month, the Washington Post reported that Trump is expected to link pregnant women’s use of the medicine Tylenol with a risk for autism, which goes against what medical experts have said.
According to The Guardian, medical guidelines have said it is safe for pregnant women to take Tylenol, whose active ingredient is acetaminophen, or more commonly known as paracetamol.
M. Remi Yergeau, a Carleton University professor and Canada Research Chair in Critical Disability Studies and Communication, has previously refuted RFK Jr’s claims that an autism ‘epidemic’ is taking place in the US right now.
Elsewhere in Trump's speech, the President spoke directly to Kirk's parents.
"To Charlie’s parents, who lost their beloved Son and to the entire Kirk family, we know that no words could ever be enough to fill the void he leaves behind," he said.
"That’s a void that just can’t be filled. But I hope the extraordinary outpouring of emotion over these past 11 days has comforted you with the knowledge that your son brought more good and love into this world in his 31 short years than most people, even very, very successful people can bring in a lifetime."
Topics: Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, Politics, Health
Callum Jones