January 1, Trump-Backed Autism Drug Sparks Media Fury

Wyatt’s Take

• Leucovorin, a chemo side-effect drug, now sparks controversy after Trump backs it for autism.
• Old news stories praising the treatment shift tone to skepticism after his endorsement.
• The FDA approved leucovorin for a rare brain disorder with autism-like traits, but the media questions its broader use.

Leucovorin, long used for chemo patients, has shown promise treating autism symptoms in children for years. But after President Trump threw support behind the off-label use, major media and health officials quickly voiced their doubts.

Critics called it “unproven,” “not backed by science,” and “shocking” to recommend—ignoring families who say their children improved.

The FDA now lets leucovorin treat “cerebral folate deficiency,” where kids struggle with developmental delays similar to autism. More than 40 patients showed real improvement, according to government review.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Mehmet Oz, and President Trump spoke out in favor of therapies like leucovorin, drawing even more attention and debate. Some coverage shifted focus to Tylenol risks in pregnancy, while drug makers quietly changed their own advice.

Dr. Oz told Fox News that while clinical trials may run years, most parents and doctors he talked to support leucovorin since hundreds of children have already benefited. He said, “The clinical trials will probably take five years,” and noted that about half of kids showed some benefit as research remains ongoing.

The FDA’s change should help families access the medicine through programs like Medicaid. Medical agencies will regularly check in with parents tracking their child’s progress.

Some doctors predict leucovorin might help over half of children with autism, but warn more studies are needed. Others say important research lands in small science journals because it challenges mainstream thinking.

Advocacy groups like Autism Speaks say leucovorin “shows promise in improving speech in minimally verbal children,” but want wider, more careful studies.

While not all doctors are willing to prescribe, parents keep pushing for answers and options. University clinics admit that families have been asking about this treatment for months.

Stories from parents describe kids speaking their first words days after starting leucovorin. Several clinical trials overseas and in the U.S. have backed up these reports, even as critics call for more proof.

Big pharmaceutical companies seem reluctant to pursue these treatments since there’s little profit in old drugs with new uses.

Families in the heartland know that simple solutions often get overlooked by experts and politicians. As the fight continues, regular Americans just want real help for their kids, not more red tape and politics.

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Wyatt Matters

Every family deserves to explore safe, affordable treatments for children in need, free from politics and big business interference. Real hope comes when common sense and real life experience are valued over media spin and official narratives.