Conspiracy theories surrounding former President Donald Trump have once again taken over corners of social media, this time sparked by his brief absence from the public eye and culminating in wild speculation that a body double has been used in his place.
The online storm began earlier this week when Trump was not seen in public for two consecutive days. While this would usually draw little attention, the former president’s recent health concerns have made his every move a focus for speculation. The phrase “TRUMP IS DEAD” began trending across platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter, by Saturday morning. Posts using hashtags such as #whereistrump and #TRUMPDIED reportedly reached over 200,000 by mid-morning.
When Trump finally appeared on Saturday, rather than quelling the hysteria, his public sighting added fuel to the fire. He was seen departing from the White House’s south lawn alongside his granddaughter, Kai Trump, and boarding a motorcade heading toward his golf course in Sterling, Virginia. He wore a white polo shirt, black trousers, and a signature red “Make America Great Again” cap.
Photos of Trump from that morning quickly circulated, with many users honing in on what they claimed were inconsistencies in his physical appearance. Some pointed to his posture, others to the shape of his jaw or the way he carried himself. Several users compared recent images to older ones and insisted they were not the same man.