Melania-gate? Fake Melania? Melania-a-lago?
As if the Trump Administration doesn’t have countless real scandals dogging its heels, observant internet denizens have added another to the pile.
Brought about by a video in which Melania Trump doesn’t quite look like herself, various people within the Twittersphere express doubts – some jokingly, others seriously – about the veracity of the woman standing beside her husband.
Some folks think the White House might have trotted out a First Lady impersonator instead of the real deal and just hoped that the public wouldn’t notice.
As you’ll see in the video below, there’s something that’s definitely off.
We are not saying that the theory that a stand-in filled in for her is true, but if you watch the video, you’ll see why some people were left scratching their heads.
The hair looks dry where Melania’s usually looks sleek, glossy, and healthy. The sunglasses are so dark and large that most of her face is obscured. And something, maybe just lighting and makeup, is different around her mouth.
Normally, the absurdity of the theory would be enough that people wouldn’t even pay attention. After all, the White House would have everything to lose and basically nothing to gain by trotting out a Fake Melania.
But, as so many people have pointed out: this is the Trump White House. It doesn’t have to make sense.
This administration’s history of total fabrications make even the most ridiculous conspiracy theories sound almost plausible.
Even if we don’t quite believe that the video below shows a Fake Melania, we have to admit that the nagging doubt is probably going to keep us up at night.
Take a look at what Twitter had to say on the subject:
Melania Trump … or Not?
This was the video of Melania-or-Not-Melania that was uploaded to Twitter. Honestly, watch it enough and you might start to see where these people are coming from … even if you don’t agree with them.
The tweet that started it all
We feel like this was tongue-in-cheek, as one hardly has to look for secret duplicate First Ladies to find lies in the Trump Administration. There are new ones every day. It’s well-documented.
The conspiracy theory caught on
By Wednesday afternoon, “Melania” was the #1 trending topic … and not for reasons that would likely make her happy.
This comparison isn’t super nice.
Really, it’s around the mouth where she looks the most different, right? Also her hair.
This sort of harmless conspiracy theory can really hook you
Kris Jenner memes show up more than once.
Another less kind comparison
Surely we can analyze the appearance of Melania-Or-Is-She without insults. Not sure if this is an insult to MJ or MT, but either way, let’s cut it out.
PLEASE let this happen!
Don’t dress as the real Melania. Dress as Fake Melania.
It’s okay to enjoy things
Most conspiracy theories are harmful, challenging science or weaving a vast conspiratorial web that spans the globe and could prompt someone to become violent. This one’s mostly just silly. … Or is it?
Finally, a reference to Joan the Scammer
This person seems ot suggest that this Fake Melania was designed to fool Trump, rather than simply to fool America. That’s an interesting take.
Watch that video again. This was the vibe that “Melania” gave off.
Wendy Williams may not be a great person, but she stars in some truly excellent reaction gifs.
Getting into the mind of an imposter
We’re not saying that this Melania was fake, but imagine what that would be like. Would it be some diehard Trump loyalist playing the part, or a ruthless mercenary who’s only after money?
One of many, many comparisons
Please; Carmen Sandiego wears red and would only be near Trump if she intended to steal the White House.
Many people had this experience
The more that you watch the video, the more that you wonder. Even if you dismiss it, the nagging doubt might keep you up at night.
This Charlie Day meme really captures the experience
Melania-gate makes you feel a little bonkers if you take it seriously
Stop this!!
Carmen Sandiego may be a master criminal but she has done nothing to deserve this kind of hateful comparison.
Nice callback!
Remember when Melania plagiarized Michelle Obama’s speech and it was considered a huge scandal? Weird that we actually MISS 2016.
Melania-Or-Is-She drew another comparison
Vincent Adultman is one of the best characters on Bojack Horseman.
Not all conspiracy theories are created equal
Well, Pizzagate led to an armed lunatic barging into a restaurant to rescue nonexistent children from a nonexistent sex ring in a nonexistent basement. “Fake Melania” is a harmless theory.
Oooh, burn!
Real or fake, that Melania can’t be enjoying this.
This is, we’re 90% sure, a parody
Okay, more like 100% sure.
The hair in particular doesn’t look like Melania’s
Melania’s hair is generally pretty glossy; these dry ends don’t look like what we expect from her
A list of apparent discrepencies
She looks the most different around the lips, but these are all good points
Utter disbelief
It starts as a joke … but then it starts to sink in, and you really start to wonder
Imagine if there’s an investigation
We told you that Kris Jenner memes would show up again
One good conspiracy theory deserves another
The “Ted Cruz is the Zodiac Killer” meme is a fantastic callback to the 2016 primaries. Apologies if you don’t enjoy Millennial humor.
A good reason to cast doubt
We see her argument and raise her: where would they find even ONE woman willing to go places with him? Because Melania has often seemed less-than-eager.
This is how it starts
We definitely went on some “face journeys” as we saw Melania’s name start to trend and realized why.
It’s all in good fun
Well, some people believe it for sure. Others are just enjoying themselves.