A Dutch institute issues a ‘Red Alert’ over potentially lethal Trump-shaped ecstasy pills

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Trimbos Institute issued a “Red Alert” on Friday warning that ecstasy tablets molded to resemble the head of former U.S. President Donald Trump contain a potentially lethal dose of PMMA (para‑methoxymethamfetamine). The institute said several of the pills have been distributed through a network of drug‑testing centers where users submit substances for analysis before consumption. A photograph released by Trimbos shows one tablet bearing a likeness of Trump’s head on one side and the letters “NL” and “Trump” stamped on the opposite side, separated by a vertical line; the pills appear in greenish and yellow hues. “Absolutely do not use these pills,” the institute warned in its alert. Trimbos explained that PMMA, while chemically similar to MDMA, acts more slowly. Users who do not feel an immediate effect may take additional doses, increasing the risk of overdose. The institute added that consumption “can lead to overheating with potentially deadly consequences.” Spokesperson Anniek Groothuis told The Associated Press that the institute has no recorded cases of serious illness or death linked to the tablets. “We do not know of any victims where PMMA was found in their blood,” she said. Although the production, sale and use of ecstasy remain illegal in the Netherlands, the drug is widely consumed, particularly at clubs and music festivals. A 2024 government study estimated that roughly 550,000 people used the substance in the country over a twelve‑month period. This is not the first occurrence of Trump‑shaped ecstasy surfacing in Europe. In 2017, German police confiscated thousands of orange tablets bearing the same likeness. The Associated Press August 28, 2026 - 12:09 pm