Associated Press/Luca Bruno
- There's a wild conspiracy theory that Melania Trump has been replaced by a body double in public appearances.
- A Facebook post laying out the theory went viral, with almost 100,000 shares.
- First lady body double conspiracies have been circulating for months online.
A conspiracy theory that Melania Trump has been replaced by a body double has gone viral.
Conspiracy theorists have been circulating the rumor that the first lady actually has a body double for a while now.
The conspiracy went from tongue-in-cheek to a full-blown conspiracy after a Facebook post by Andrea Wagner Barton last week.
"Is it me or during his speech today a decoy 'stood in' for Melania??" Barton, an actress and comedian, posted on Friday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the post had been shared more than 97,000 times.
The genesis of the conspiracy isn't exactly clear. However, people have been using a strikingly similar-looking secret service agent, President Trump's apparent slip-ups regarding his wife's whereabouts, and the first lady's sometimes "altered" appearance as evidence.
Now, the conspiracy theory is quickly spreading across the internet.
Some people discussing the conspiracy are clearly joking.
However, others seem to have bought into the body double conspiracy.
"Oh my lord. That is totally not her. I am freaking out," one person commented on Barton's post.
"Wow! That is totally not her! Look at that harsh contour on her nose! I've studied her face... totally doesn't look like her to me," wrote another commenter. "What the heck is happening in this world!?!"