Donald Trump is no stranger to controversy, but his latest appearance at a NATO summit in the Netherlands has fueled a peculiar (but popular) conspiracy theory — that the president is using a body double.
Conspiracy Ignites Over NATO Photo
On June 24, Trump joined world leaders for a high-profile NATO summit at The Hague, posing alongside dignitaries including King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
But shortly after photos from the event began circulating, social media lit up with speculation that something was off — particularly about Trump’s height.
“He looks way too short to be Trump,” one person wrote on X. Another chimed in: “That... that is not Trump.”
Another X user questioned: "Is it just me, or does Trump appear to be about 4-6" shorter than he should be?"
One person outright asked: "Is this supposed to be him?"
"Yeah, Donald Trump is way too short to be the real one," another social media user tweeted.
Trump, officially listed as 6ft 3in, appeared visibly shorter than King Willem-Alexander, who is reportedly 6ft 2in — and not substantially taller than Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who stands just over 6ft. The discrepancy sparked waves of online chatter suggesting Trump may have sent a “mini Trump” body double in his place.
Trump's recent medical examination also confirmed his height to be 75 inches (or 6ft 2.5").
There’s Likely a Simpler Explanation
While some users insisted it was a case of a stand-in, others offered a more grounded explanation: camera angles, footwear differences, or even posture could account for the altered visual.
“Let’s not get carried away. He just looks shorter because he’s standing next to tall men,” one reply read.
Others also highlighted that Queen Máxima was likely wearing high-heeled shoes.
In fact, as we can see from this photo - taken the following day on June 25 - Queen Máxima's significant heels are visible:
Despite the logical pushback, the theory gained enough steam to trend across social platforms — echoing past moments when the Trump family was accused of deploying doubles.
Melania Trump and the Long-Running ‘Fake Melania’ Rumors
The Trump family’s entanglement with “body double” theories isn’t new.
Melania Trump, in particular, has faced relentless scrutiny over her appearances. The “Fake Melania” theory first emerged in 2017 and continues to resurface every time she seems slightly different in public — whether in facial expression, demeanor, or wardrobe.
The most recent flare-up came during a military parade where a smiling, animated Melania appeared next to her husband — a stark contrast to her usual reserved public persona.
“Ummm I don’t think that’s really Melania Trump,” one poster wrote, while another added, “This is a body double, and not a very good one.”
Theories even reignited during her appearance at Pope Francis’ funeral in April, with one commenter declaring, “This one is finally revealed as the fake Melania… overly made up, not Melania’s eyes or cheekbones.”
Why the Theories Persist Despite Debunks
Despite multiple debunks — including from fact-checking outlets like Snopes — and clear denials from the Trumps themselves, these body double theories remain a stubbornly recurring part of internet culture.
Former White House communications chief Stephanie Grisham previously dismissed the speculation, calling it “a ridiculous non-story.”
Melania herself has addressed the narrative, telling Fox & Friends: “I feel I was always me the first time as well. I just feel that people didn’t accept me maybe. Maybe some people, they see me as just a wife of the president, but I’m standing on my own two feet. Independent. I have my own thoughts, I have my own ‘yes’ and ‘no.’”
But the endurance of these theories may say more about public perception than truth. Social media users often seize on any deviation in demeanor, appearance, or behavior — especially in figures as polarizing and closely watched as the Trumps — to build entire narratives out of momentary anomalies.
As for the NATO summit, the odds are far greater that shoes, angles, and lighting played tricks on the camera — but for some, the idea of a “mini Trump” is simply too tempting to resist.