Dutch institute issues warning over Trump-shaped ecstasy pills

by | Aug 29, 2026 | Top Stories

Dutch institute issues warning over Trump-shaped ecstasy pills

The Trimbos Institute, a drug addiction and mental health organization based in Utrecht, issued a severe warning about ecstasy pills molded in the shape of US President Donald Trump’s head. The alert was prompted after multiple samples of the pills were submitted to drug testing centers in August and laboratory analysis revealed they contained unusually elevated concentrations of PMMA, a chemical compound with properties similar to MDMA.

The institute distributed images showing the pills, which display a representation of Trump’s likeness on one side alongside text reading “Trump” and “NL” on the reverse. Officials urged users to avoid consuming the substance entirely, citing serious health risks. PMMA differs from MDMA in that its effects develop more gradually and the stimulating properties are often diminished, creating conditions that substantially increase the probability of accidental overdose.

According to the Trimbos Institute, individuals who consume the pills may experience adverse reactions including nausea, tachycardia, and seizures, with symptoms potentially emerging several hours after ingestion. Anniek Groothuis, a spokesperson for the institute, indicated to the Associated Press that no fatalities or severe medical incidents had been documented among known users of this particular batch as of the alert’s issuance.

Although the production, distribution, and consumption of ecstasy remain illegal in the Netherlands, government research from 2024 noted the drug maintains significant popularity within social and recreational settings. That same report indicated approximately 550,000 individuals in the country had used the substance at least once in 2022. This incident represents a recurrence of similar occurrences, as German law enforcement previously seized approximately 5,000 orange-colored MDMA tablets featuring Trump’s likeness in 2017, which authorities suspected had been marketed online under the promotional message “Trump makes partying great again.”

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