Melania Trump's wild 'body double' conspiracy explained as theory resurfaces

Melania Trump has once again become the subject of bizarre body double rumours after of Pope Francis in Rome this weekend.

Dressed in a sombre black blazer dress and veil, the former First Lady paid her respects in St Peter’s Square - but online sleuths were quick to reignite speculation that it wasn’t really her. It’s a conspiracy theory that refuses to die.

The so-called "" rumours first gained momentum during ’s first presidency in 2017, when sharp-eyed social media users began pointing out alleged discrepancies in Melania’s appearance at public events. Whether it was her posture, her facial features, or her seemingly altered height in photographs, theorists insisted something wasn’t right.

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Grainy footage, stiff body language, and a tendency to wear oversized sunglasses only added to the mystery, with critics suggesting that a body double was occasionally standing in for the First Lady. This latest theory burst into life after Melania’s appearance at Pope Francis’s funeral, where mourners from around the gathered to pay their respects in Vatican City.

Videos and images from the day quickly went viral, with some viewers claiming Melania’s eyes, cheekbones, and expressions didn’t match the Melania they were used to.

One online commenter wildly exclaimed, "Holy smokes! Where is Melania? No one’s fooled by the body double beside Trump." In contrast, others accused the former President of "trotting out" a stand-in to maintain the illusion of a united marriage, suggesting Melania could not stand him and their relationship was purely transactional.

Others chimed in with similar sentiments, with one person commenting: "Reports are that one of the fake Melania stand-ins is going to Rome with Epstein child crime cohort Donald Trump for the Pope Francis funeral."

Another user asked: "Am I crazy or is this a fake Melania?"

Some even speculated about the Trumps' marriage, suggesting that the alleged body double is used to create an illusion of a happy relationship. "There's an obviously fake version of Melania that they keep trotting out to extend the illusion of the Trumps happily married + her engaged in his Presidency when they're estranged, she can't stand him + it's all a financial arrangement," one person said.

Despite the frenzy, no concrete evidence has ever surfaced to back the body double claims. Yet the theory keeps resurfacing, partly because in the digital age, public trust in what we see has eroded.

Altered videos, deepfakes, and selective screenshots make it easier than ever for conspiracy theories to flourish. Rumours first began swirling after footage of her attending a polling station in Florida in November 2024 surfaced.

Body language expert Judi James noted at the time that Melania's look was markedly different from her past high-visibility outfits as First Lady.

She told the : "Her smile seems almost compensatory here as Trump's facial expression is rather solemn and he graciously and gallantly motions for her to walk in first."

The 54-year-old's subdued style, featuring a floor-length black-and-white polka dot dress from Christian Dior, also drew attention, as did the sunglasses she opted to wear. But Melania later removed the sunglasses, revealing her face.

Rumours continued swirling on Inauguration Day in January 2025 when Melania appeared beside Trump dressed in a silk wool Adam Lippes coat, skirt, and an ivory blouse. Her enormous hat, designed by Eric Javits, added a hint of drama.

"Who was that person? Body double, Melania? Creepy as hell…." One said while another wrote, "I think it’s fake Melania at the inauguration. The hat completely obscures her face, and all of the camera angles have her behind something or someone. Very strange."

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