President Trump mentioned Thursday that autism should not happen naturally, citing figures inflating the spike in autism and suggesting the administration’s Make America Wholesome Once more (MAHA) Fee might present solutions.

“Once you hear 10,000, it was 1 in 10,000, and now it is 1 in 31 for autism, I believe that is only a horrible factor. It must be one thing on the surface, must be artificially induced, must be,” Trump said at a MAHA Commission event. “And we is not going to permit our public well being system to be captured by the very industries it’s imagined to oversee. So we’re demanding the solutions, the general public is demanding the solutions and that’s why we’re right here.”

He famous that the administration is phasing out eight of the most typical synthetic meals dyes, after the Meals and Drug Administration introduced actions final month to part out using petroleum-based meals dyes in U.S. meals merchandise, citing issues over potential well being impacts on youngsters.

The MAHA Fee occasion unveiled the group’s new report, which pointed to 4 key components it says are hurting U.S. youngsters: ultraprocessed meals, environmental chemical substances, digital habits and “overmedicalization.” The report identifies pesticides and different chemical substances as probably having dangerous well being impacts, but it surely stops wanting recommending actions to restrict them.

On the occasion, the president was sitting beside Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who’s a distinguished vaccine skeptic and has additionally shared his debunked theories a few hyperlink between autism and vaccines.

Forward of Kennedy’s affirmation vote within the Senate, Trump additionally shared figures questioning the autism fee.

“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 wrote on Fact Social on the time.

He has equally introduced up autism charges throughout Cupboard conferences whereas touting Kennedy’s work, and in December, he mentioned he thinks there are “problems with vaccines” and has prompt his administration would examine a debunked hyperlink between the 2. 

About 1 in 36 youngsters now have a analysis of autism spectrum dysfunction, in line with estimates from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, in comparison with about 1 in 150 in 2000.