May 28, 2026, 1:53 p.m. ET
A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh that went viral for its resemblance to President Donald Trump has been spared from an Islamic ritual involving sacrifice after last-minute government intervention.
The roughly 1,543-pound buffalo had already been sold for Qurbani or Udhiyah, which is the sacrifice ahead of the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha, or the “Festival of Sacrifice,” when authorities stepped in, according to Reuters. Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed ordered that the buyer be refunded and the animal be relocated to the national zoo in Dhaka.
“At the last moment, the decision was taken to spare the buffalo from sacrifice due to security concerns and the unusual level of public interest,” a Home Ministry official told Reuters.
The buffalo, nicknamed “Donald Trump” because of its flowing blond tuft of hair, became a viral sensation after videos and photos circulated online. Crowds gathered at the farm in Narayanganj, near the capital city of Dhaka, with visitors traveling long distances to see the animal in person.
How the buffalo got its name
Farm owner Ziauddin Mridha previously told AFP that his younger brother came up with the nickname after noticing similarities between the buffalo’s hair and Trump’s signature hairstyle.
“My younger brother picked this name because of the buffalo’s extraordinary hair,” Mridha told the Paris-based global news agency.
The 4-year-old buffalo drew a steady stream of visitors in recent weeks as social media attention grew. Mridha also told media outlets the animal was unusually calm and required regular care, including frequent baths.
Eid sacrifice and public attention
Before the intervention, the buffalo was expected to be sacrificed during Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s holiest holidays. The festival commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, with millions of livestock being sacrificed across Bangladesh during the celebration.
Mridha acknowledged the animal’s fate while speaking to AFP.
“I am going to miss Donald Trump, but that is the core spirit of Eid al-Adha – making a sacrifice,” he said before the government stepped in.
The buffalo is not the first animal to spark Trump comparisons online. NBC News reported that in recent years, the president has also been likened to a golden pheasant in China and a frogfish discovered in England.
Contributing: Reuters & Fernando Cervantes Jr./ USA TODAY
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on X @athompsonUSAT
