DATE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026
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Dutch Institute Warns Against Lethal Ecstasy Pills Shaped Like Donald Trump's Head

Dutch Institute Warns Against Lethal Ecstasy Pills Shaped Like Donald Trump's Head

Aug 29, 2026 - 14:41
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Dutch institute issues 'red alert' over Trump-shaped ecstasy pills
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Key Highlights:
  • A Dutch drug addiction and mental health institute has issued a 'red alert' to users about potentially lethal ecstasy pills in the shap
  • The Utrecht-based Trimbos Institute said several of the pills had been handed in at testing centres in August and were found to contain
  • 'Do not use this pill under any circumstance,' the institute said in its warning, cautioning that the drug could cause 'overheating wit

A Dutch drug addiction and mental health institute has issued a 'red alert' to users about potentially lethal ecstasy pills in the shape of US President Donald Trump's head.

The Utrecht-based Trimbos Institute said several of the pills had been handed in at testing centres in August and were found to contain a 'very high' amount of the chemical PMMA.

Cautionary Warning from the Institute

'Do not use this pill under any circumstance,' the institute said in its warning, cautioning that the drug could cause 'overheating with potentially fatal consequences'.

The institute issued images of the pills, which feature a depiction of Trump's head on one side and the words 'Trump' and 'NL' stamped on the other.

PMMA, or para-methoxymethamfetamine, is a substance similar to MDMA – the active ingredient in ecstasy pills.

Risk of Overdose Due to Delayed Effect

'However, the effect occurs later, and the stimulating effect is often absent,' the institute advised. 'This increases the risk of overdose.'

Users are being warned they could experience symptoms such as nausea, an increased heart rate and convulsions hours after ingesting the pills.

Trimbos Institute spokesperson Anniek Groothuis told the Associated Press that it had no reported cases of death or serious illness among possible users.

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While producing, selling and using ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands, a 2024 Dutch government report said the substance was 'still quite popular as a party drug'.

The report added that, in 2022, a 'record 550,000 people' had taken the drug at least once.

This is not the first time Donald Trump's facial features appear to have been used as inspiration for the shape of ecstasy pills.

In 2017, German police confiscated about 5,000 carrot-coloured ecstasy tablets in the shape of the US president's head – which they believed had been promoted on the internet under the slogan 'Trump makes partying great again'.

"Do not use this pill under any circumstance," the institute warned

A Dutch drug addiction and mental health institute has issued a "red alert" to users about potentially lethal ecstasy pills in the shape of US President Donald Trump's head.

The Utrecht-based Trimbos Institute said several of the pills had been handed in at testing centres in August and were found to contain a "very high" amount of the chemical PMMA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Users may experience symptoms such as nausea, an increased heart rate and convulsions hours after ingesting the pills.

Trimbos Institute spokesperson Anniek Groothuis told the Associated Press that it had no reported cases of death or serious illness among possible users.

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I write about the forces shaping business and the global economy, from startup growth and changing markets to international trade and policy. My work focuses on breaking down complex developments into clear, practical insights and understanding what they could mean for businesses, investors, and the wider economy.

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