Social media is once again ablaze with speculation about U.S. President Donald Trump’s health after his first public appearance in several days fueled fresh conspiracy theories.
The 79-year-old leader, who has often pushed back against rumors about his condition, is now facing online claims that he may be using a body double, or that he is in far worse health than his team admits.
Social media reacts to Trump's puffy appearance.jpg_buwxou?tr=w-216%2Cq-70%2Cf-webp)
On September 2, Trump called reporters to the Oval Office after a multi-day absence from the spotlight, according to The Guardian.
Paparazzi images of him leaving the White House soon began circulating online, and many observers zeroed in on his noticeably swollen face.
“Maybe it’s just me, but that doesn’t look like Trump at all,” one X (formerly Twitter) user posted. Another quipped, “Lol, that’s not Trump, that’s his stunt double.” A third worried: “Okay maybe he is dying.”
This is not the first time Trump has faced such rumors. Just months ago, he dismissed speculation that his wife, Melania Trump, was being impersonated at public events. Now, similar claims are being directed at him personally.
The conspiracy chatter stretches back to June, when Trump appeared in a group photo at a NATO summit in the Netherlands. Standing beside King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (6’2”) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (just over 6’0”), Trump (who has long been listed as 6’3”) appeared slightly shorter than expected.
“Obviously not the real one. Not tall enough,” one user wrote at the time. Another remarked: “When I saw a video from earlier today, I was wondering why he was so much shorter.”
Experts say the explanation is far simpler: posture, footwear, or simply the perception of height when standing among other tall leaders. Still, such details continue to fuel online debates about whether the president is truly the man in the photos.
Trump has been quick to deny any suggestion that he is unwell. Taking to Truth Social, he posted: “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE. Also, DC IS A CRIME FREE ZONE! President DJT.”
The message came in response to a supporter who accused the media of applying a double standard between Trump and President Joe Biden when it comes to public appearances.
Adding to the swirl of rumors, Vice President JD Vance recently commented that he was prepared to step in “if anything catastrophic happened,” per The Telegraph. Still, he insisted Trump remains in “incredibly good health” and has “incredible energy,” often working later into the night and earlier in the morning than many younger staffers.
Despite these reassurances, speculation about Trump’s health, and the bizarre body double theories, shows no sign of slowing down online.