Donald Trump-Shaped Ecstasy Pills Found in Netherlands: What Is PMMA and Why Is It Dangerous?

Donald Trump-shaped ecstasy pills are circulating in the Netherlands, with a batch submitted to a national drug-testing centre found to contain a 'very high amount' of para-methoxymethamphetamine, or PMMA. The pills, seen in several colours, feature the US president's distinctive hairstyle and facial expression.

The tablets were submitted to a testing centre belonging to the country's Drugs Information and Monitoring System (DIMS), Daily Mail reported. The Trimbos Institute, which operates DIMS, warned about the high PMMA content and the potential risks associated with the substance. San Francisco’s ‘Zombie Drug’ Crisis: Horrific Video Shows Rows of Drugged-Out Addicts Frozen in the Streets.

Donald Trump-Shaped Pills Found In Netherlands

The drugs feature what appears to be Donald Trump's signature hairstyle and pout. On the reverse side, the surname Trump is visible along with the letters NL, a common abbreviation for the Netherlands. The Trimbos Institute said testing found a 'very high amount' of PMMA in the pills.

What Is PMMA?

PMMA is a substance with a chemical structure similar to the party drug MDMA and can produce similar euphoric effects when ingested. However, PMMA generally takes longer than MDMA to produce noticeable effects.

According to the Alcohol and Drugs Foundation, the delayed onset can lead people to take additional doses because they believe the first dose has not worked. That can result in a significant overdose, which can be fatal.

PMMA has been associated with deaths in several countries since it began appearing in party pills in the 1970s. The UK experienced a spike in PMMA-related deaths in 2012 and 2013.

In the US, PMMA has also been found in tablets marketed as MDMA. The substance was implicated in a series of deaths among people who believed they were taking MDMA in the early 2010s. An exact figure for PMMA-related injuries and fatalities in the US is not known.

PMMA Legal Status In UK And US

PMMA is classified as a Schedule 1, Class A drug in the UK. Possession can lead to a seven-year prison sentence and an unlimited fine, while supplying the drug can result in a life sentence and an unlimited fine. In the US, PMMA is also classified as a Schedule I controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Earlier Donald Trump Pills Investigated In Glasgow

Trump-shaped ecstasy pills have previously attracted attention in the UK. In 2024, police were investigating whether a batch of 'super-strength' ecstasy tablets shaped like Donald Trump's face may have been involved in the deaths of three teenagers who attended the SWG3 nightclub in Glasgow in 2023 and 2024.

The 'Trump pills' were recovered by security staff from the Glasgow venue in August 2023. Scott Allison and Marcus Dick, both 18, died after attending a dance event at the venue that summer. An 18-year-old woman also died in January 2024 after attending a New Year's Eve event at SWG3, with drugs similarly suspected as the cause.

A Public Health Scotland report published that year included a red alert on drug trends issued by Police Scotland. The turquoise Trump pills, which contained MDMA, were identified as potential killers.

Trump Pills Previously Seized In US

Authorities in the US have also previously seized similar Trump-shaped pills in Indiana, Georgia and Florida. However, those tablets contained MDMA rather than necessarily containing PMMA. The Netherlands batch therefore raises a separate concern because of the substance identified by the country's drug-testing system.

The delayed effects of PMMA can increase the risk of accidental overdose when users take additional doses before the initial dose has taken effect. Health authorities have previously linked PMMA to serious poisoning and deaths, particularly when it is sold or consumed as MDMA.

The discovery of the Trump-shaped tablets in the Netherlands highlights the risks of assuming that the appearance or branding of an illicit tablet indicates what it contains. Drug-testing services can identify substances that may otherwise be unknown to consumers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2026 09:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).