Leaked footage from Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska has sparked a massive conspiracy theory.
On August 15, 2025, Trump and Putin held their first face-to-face meeting in seven years at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Alaska.
Despite hopes for a breakthrough in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the summit ended without a concrete peace agreement.
The 79-year-old US president described the meeting as “extremely productive” and noted that “great progress” had been made, but no ceasefire or major concessions were achieved.
While the outcome of the meeting failed to meet expectations, it was the unseen footage released by Russia that quickly captured the public’s attention.
The video, which showed the two leaders chatting after their official press conference, has sparked widespread speculation.
In the clip, Putin is seen with his back to the camera, but his movements appear unusual, particularly his legs, which seemed to “twitch suspiciously.”
This odd behavior led to rampant conspiracy theories, with some claiming that the man in the video could not be Putin, but rather a body double.
“His whole body language is super awkward,” one person said, while a theorist claimed: “It's not a Putin. There's no real Putin anymore. Who's behind this circus?" and a third added: "No. The double way shorter than original, and he wears insoles to make him look higher, which, probably, very uncomfortable if you wear them for a long time."
As the theories spread, others dismissed the idea, arguing that Russia would not risk sending a double for such an important summit. “They would not send a double on an event like this,” one person tweeted.
Body language experts were quick to weigh in, with Inbaal Honigman dismissing the body double claims. Honigman pointed out an “identifiable mark” that confirmed it was indeed Putin in the video.
"This is an identifiable mark of the former KGB agent, which allows an officer to be ready to pull a firearm out of its holster at a moment's notice," she explained to the Daily Star.
But, she also acknowledged that the Russian leader seemed a little slower and stiffer, which could have contributed to the speculation.
Aside from the body double theory, the body language between the two leaders during the summit itself also drew significant attention.
From the moment they shook hands, their interactions were scrutinized by experts. According to Dr. Peter Collett, the handshake between the two leaders was symbolic in many ways.
Per Sky News, the expert pointed out that Putin extended his hand first, which signaled “enthusiasm, delight,” and “commitment." However, the several “hand pats” exchanged during the handshake revealed a power struggle between the two men, with Trump’s deliberate hand pats being seen as a “status reminder".
One of Trump’s signature moves, allowing Putin to place his hand on top, might have appeared as a submission gesture, but the expert explained that it actually allowed Trump to “flex his muscles” and maintain his control by pulling Putin closer.
The most telling moment came when Trump delivered the final pat, a gesture commonly used by high-dominance figures to assert their authority.