In other, healthier eras, conspiracy theories are easily shot down as silly, easily debunked, wastes of valuable time. In the Trump age, however, anything seems possible. The latest example: Twitter went nuts this weekend over the #FakeMelania meme. The gyst: The Melania-looking woman who traveled with our president to tornado-ravaged Alabama may not actually be the First Lady.
It’s bizarre that they trot out #FakeMelania, thinking no one will notice. This one’s shorter + looks nothing like her!
Melania Trump is the same height as Michelle Obama: 5’11”
Barack Obama is 6’1”; Trump *says* he’s 6’3”, but looks to be as tall as ObamaWhere’s the REAL one? pic.twitter.com/3DqtT02O65
— #PassTheERA, dammit! (@TheMominatrixx) March 9, 2019
According to this theory, it also wouldn’t be the first time we’ve gotten Fake Melania. The conspiracy goes like this: Every time Melania is too annoyed with her impulsive, reckless, potentially criminal husband to go through the usual First Lady motions, Trump replaces her with a double.
It’s a ridiculous theory…or is it? Trump isn’t only a habitual proven liar, he’s also weird, and even if certain conspiracy theories about him — like that his doctor isn’t a real doctor and Trump writes his medical notes himself — never wind up being proven one way or the other, the important (and chilling) thing is that they could be true.
And of course, there’s Melania herself — an enigma who brushed off the fact that her presidential husband slept with a porn star, and once disappeared from public view for a full 24 days, not to mention has curious fashion and holiday decorating tastes.
In any case, it gave people on the Internet something to do, which was to go full Oliver Stone and zoom in on photos, much like David Hemmings’ increasingly mad photographer-turned-amateur-sleuth in Michelangelo Antonioni’s classic Blow-Up.
https://twitter.com/JoeVargas/status/920510364273520646
@realDonaldTrump isn’t even trying anymore. #fakemelania pic.twitter.com/WP4XifJaqF
— Shmick (@MickeySwank) March 8, 2019
Questions:
1) Does Donald realise that’s not Melania?
2) Do the American media realise that’s not Melania?
3) Is Melania dead? #FakeMelania https://t.co/XTRfXQrTxZ— Chris 🐾 (@Chris_CPH) March 9, 2019
Ok People! Let’s list all the ways #FakeMelania is different than #RealMelania. What the hell—it’s the weekend, we all deserve some downtime.
I’ll go first:
•Chin Shape pic.twitter.com/vl3hDpMx3k— M E L L Y med (@mel_med_larson) March 9, 2019
Holy bad body doubles, Batman!
Melania couldn't even be bothered to travel to Alabama for trump's Bible signing! I know a reconstructed sad mug when I see one, and that ain't it.
Maybe THAT'S Melanie!#FakeMelania pic.twitter.com/NMF9tSWn3T
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) March 9, 2019
We are in full-on-dictator-mode. They are using body doubles for the First Lady now. #fakemelania https://t.co/IH9YmNq0kn
— Countess of Ash 🌻 (@CountessofAsh) March 9, 2019
Someone even ID’d Melania’s possible stand-in.
https://twitter.com/PaladinCornelia/status/1104438370422284288
WELL, damn…#FakeMelania pic.twitter.com/VeakxeAnKP
— Liza Sabater 🇵🇷👸🏾🌹 (@blogdiva) March 9, 2019
Even if this is all winds up as fictional as many of the president’s statements, at least it gave Twitterers the chance to do what it does best: make jokes.
The recasting of Melania is the worst I've seen since they recast Aunt Viv in Fresh Prince #fakemelania pic.twitter.com/HDIMi7FDAh
— James 🇵🇸 (@jamescorscadden) March 9, 2019
Me falling deeper and deeper into this #FakeMelania conspiracy pic.twitter.com/eWQsY1vE2R
— G Love (@TokenBK1) March 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/KarenHardy99/status/1104248290957123584
#FakeMelania Thetes NO WAY that’s Melania… enlarge the photo … her mouth and face shape are completely different!!! pic.twitter.com/7s4S3WH0Zi
— Sally Gardner (@newt50) March 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/swestdahl/status/1104164295431008256
https://twitter.com/Fitzmary/status/1104419869708058625
Oh come on, they're not even trying now #FakeMelania pic.twitter.com/Z7DBfd2WIj
— Andy (@andy_eastfield) March 9, 2019
Here’s the real #FakeMelania pic.twitter.com/4VF4fC8FSl
— Bragg (@Braggasnoruss) March 9, 2019
It didn't work last time either.#FakeMelania pic.twitter.com/F7snz8A3Uy
— AstraKate (@AstraKate) March 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/justin_wood_/status/1104462027357999104
Others pointed out that we’re once again dwelling on something silly rather than something important.
I don’t think there’s a #FakeMelania body double. But when the week began I didn’t think there was a founder of a massage parlor sex trafficking ring selling Chinese executives access to Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, so what the hell do I know?
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) March 9, 2019
(Via Esquire)