Netherlands warns of dangerous ecstasy pills shaped like Trump's head
A Dutch mental health institute has issued a warning about ecstasy pills bearing Donald Trump's face after tests found dangerously high levels of PMMA. The substance can cause potentially fatal overheating of the body.
The Netherlands' addiction and mental health institute Trimbos, based in Utrecht, has issued a high-risk warning about ecstasy pills designed with the face of US President Donald Trump.
According to the institute, several such pills were submitted for testing at drug-checking centers in August. Analysis revealed a very high concentration of PMMA (para-methoxymethamphetamine). One side of the pills shows Trump's face, while the other bears the inscriptions "Trump" and "NL".
Why the pills are considered dangerous
PMMA has effects similar to MDMA, the main active ingredient in ecstasy, but its onset is slower and its stimulant effect can feel weaker. This creates a risk that users, not feeling an immediate effect, mistakenly believe the pill hasn't worked and take another dose, significantly increasing the risk of overdose. The institute urged people not to use these pills under any circumstances, warning that the substance can cause dangerous overheating of the body with potentially fatal consequences. Nausea, rapid heartbeat and convulsions may occur several hours after use.
So far, no deaths or serious illnesses linked to these specific pills have been reported.
Ecstasy's popularity in the Netherlands
Although the production, sale and use of ecstasy is illegal in the Netherlands, a 2024 government report found the drug remains relatively popular in the party scene — around 550,000 people had used it at least once in 2022.
This is not the first time ecstasy pills have been designed with Trump's likeness. In 2017, German police seized around 5,000 orange-colored ecstasy pills also shaped like Trump's head.
