They said the president hopes to then see autism rates drop, even if any such effect could take years. Or never, because, again, vaccines do not cause autism and unvaccinated children have autism at the same rates as unvaccinated children. White House spokesman Kush Desai said countless parents with questions and concerns about “America’s skyrocketing autism rates have long been ignored if not mocked.” He said that changed the day President Trump took office. No one has “mocked” skyrocketing autism rates.