The ‘fake Melania’ conspiracy theorists are once again having a field day, claiming it wasn’t actually the First Lady of the United States who touched down in England this week.
On Tuesday (16 September), the 55-year-old joined Donald Trump on the tarmac of London Stansted Airport, marking the beginning the US president’s second state visit to the UK.
Viral images showed the pair stepping off Air Force One, and MAGA supporters and critics alike were quick to comment on Melania’s seemingly uncharacteristic public display of affection.
While some claimed it looked as if she was ‘in love’ with the 79-year-old, others alleged that holding hands with Trump was a sure sign that it wasn’t Melania at all.
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“Which Melanie is this? It doesn't look like Number 1,” remarked one X user.
A second commented: “Hmmmm. Big smile and holding hands …… must be ‘public trip’ stand-in Melania.”
The bizarre comments form part of an almost decade-old conspiracy theory that claims Trump hires a woman to 'pretend to be his wife' for public appearances.
Where did the Melania Trump 'replacement' conspiracy begin?
The body double conspiracy really shot off for the first time in 2017, with Guardian columnist Marina Hyde claiming credit for the theory.
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“Absolutely convinced Melania is being played by a Melania impersonator these days. Theory: she left him weeks ago,” she wrote at the time.
While Hyde may have just been joking when she made the comment, we can bet she didn’t anticipate rumours continuing to circulate almost eight years later.
There have been a handful of moments since 2017 that Republicans and critics alike have been convinced the mother of one is someone else.
Following on from this week’s debate, we’ve outlined six more instances that previously sent the rumour mill into overdrive.
October 2017
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The former model was pictured sporting a pair of oversized, dark sunglasses in October 2017 after visiting a US Secret Service training facility in Maryland.
Apparently, this was enough to convince people she’d allegedly been ‘replaced’.
Her husband didn’t help matters by bizarrely remarking on the White House lawn: “My wife Melania, who happens to be right here.”
Melania, however, did take her glasses off after, proving she hadn’t been replaced at all.
At the time of the rumours, a spokesperson for Melania said: “Once again, we find ourselves consumed with a ridiculous non-story when we could be talking about the work the First Lady is doing on behalf of children.”
July 2018
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Trump and Melania headed to Brussels in 2018 for a NATO summit.
After she disembarked from Air Force One, people were once again convinced that ‘fake Melania’ had returned.
Again, this was debunked when more photographs of her in Belgium surfaced, but you have to love the determination, right?
March 2019
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The FLOTUS body double rumours sprang up again in March 2019, and apparently, her husband had had enough of the speculation.
Taking to social media, Trump wrote: “The Fake News photoshopped pictures of Melania, then propelled conspiracy theories that it’s actually not her by my side in Alabama and other places. They are only getting more deranged with time!”
October 2020
Apparently, people were convinced the US president had swapped his wife out again in October 2020.
This time, it was after conspiracy theorists saw a photograph taken of the pair on the Marine One helicopter as they headed to a presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee.
The image went viral, with some claiming Melania’s smile and teeth looked ‘different’ to how they normally do.
This rumour round prompted an investigation by USA Today, which confirmed the body sub gossip was ‘false’.
“The White House and President Donald Trump have denied it, and the photos and videos that have been cited as proof of the theory have been anomalies. After all, no one looks the same in every photo that is taken of them,” the publication wrote.
April 2025
Melania was accused of being stunt-cast once again in April 2025. All she did this time was attend Pope Francis’ funeral.
Clad in a black blazer dress and veil, the socialite was snapped paying her respects.
However, these pictures caused one social media user to write: “Holy smokes! ! Where is Melania? ? No one's fooled by the body double beside Trump. This one is finally revealed as the fake Melania. Look at those un-sunglassed eyes: overly made up, not Melania's eyes or cheekbones.”
June 2025
In the summer, Trump and Melania attended a military parade to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary.
“The Army keeps us free, you make us strong, and tonight you've made all Americans very proud,” Trump said during a speech.
“Every other country celebrates their victories. It's about time America did too. That's what we're doing tonight.”
Weirdly, people thought that because his spouse of 20 years was pictured smiling and seemed to be ‘having a good time’, it must mean she’d been replaced.
LADbible has contacted the White House for comment.
Topics: Conspiracy Theory, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Politics, Social Media, US News, Weird
Ella Scott