Bizarre Trump 'body double' conspiracy theory sparked as people spot specific detail following World Cup appearance

The viral 'body double' conspiracy theory has surfaced once again, but this time it's about Donald Trump, not his wife Melania.

In one clip which has since gone viral online, the 80-year-old Republican could be seen at the World Cup final on Sunday (19 July) following Spain's 1-0 win against Argentina.

The video in question, shared by the White House's Rapid Response account on X, showed Trump standing next to Spain star Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known as Rodri, who looked noticeably taller than him - despite the fact that both men are reportedly the same height.

ESPN reports that Rodri, 30, is 6 feet 3 inches tall while Trump's official physical examination from April 2025, conducted by White House physician Dr Sean Barbabella, also listed the president at 6 feet 3 inches tall.

"Spain captain Rodrigo Hernández Cascante is listed at 6' 3". So is Trump. He's gonna strain his neck looking up at Rodri!" quipped one X user.

A second chimed in: "Well it's pretty obvious all the nonsense about his height isn't true."

A third slammed: "Rodri is ACTUALLY 6’3”."

Amid the debate about the president's height, Trump's appearance following the World Cup final also sparked a bizarre 'body double' conspiracy.

Referring to a video of Trump after landing at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland after the FIFA World Cup final, comedian Jon Stewart pointed out a man who could be seen walking behind the president in the background.

"What's up with the guy behind Trump? Can we see that again?" he asked on Comedy Central's The Daily Show.

The man in the clip was seen donning a suit in the same colour as Trump's with a different coloured tie, and the pair had a similar build and stature.

"Who the ... is this guy? Who in the world is this? Oh my god, is that a back-up Trump?" Stewart joked. "Wait a minute, hold on a second! Wait, what? Is that a back-up Trump, or is that Trump? Wait, is the one we've been dealing with backup Trump? Or is that Trump?"

Social media sleuths were quick to note that the so-called body double actually appeared to be Melania's dad, Viktor Knavs.

One penned: "OK, OK, funny stuff. But the 'body double' is Melania's father. DJT's father-in-law is often invited to fun stuff."

Another pointed out: "That’s Mr Knavs, his father-in-law."

While Stewart's joke was a bit of light-hearted fun, the White House has issued a blistering response.

Spokesperson Davis Ingle told Tyla: "Jon Stewart is a talentless hack who clearly suffers from a severe and debilitating disease known as Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his peanut-sized brain and ruined his life to the point he has to compensate for his embarrassing inadequacies."

It makes a change that Trump has been accused of having a 'body double' since his wife, Melania, is often centre of the far-fetched theory...

Melania Trump's ‘body double’ conspiracy

October 2017

The theory kicked off in October 2017 when Melania was pictured sporting a pair of oversized, dark sunglasses after visiting a US Secret Service training facility in Maryland.

Apparently, this was enough to convince people she’d allegedly been ‘replaced’.

Trump didn’t help matters by bizarrely telling reporters: “My wife Melania, who happens to be right here.”

The first lady ended up taking her sunnies off, proving she hadn’t been replaced at all.

At the time of the rumours, a spokesperson for Melania told CNN: “Once again, we find ourselves consumed with a ridiculous non-story when we could be talking about the work the First Lady is doing on behalf of children.”

July 2018

After she disembarked from Air Force One ahead of the 2018 NATO summit in Brussels, people were once again convinced that ‘fake Melania’ had returned.

However, this was soon debunked when more photographs of her in Belgium surfaced, but you have to love the determination, right?

March 2019

Speculation about a Melania ‘body double’ sprang up again in March 2019, and it seemed that her husband had enough of it.

At the time, Trump tweeted: “The Fake News photoshopped pictures of Melania, then propelled conspiracy theories that it’s actually not her by my side in Alabama and other places. They are only getting more deranged with time!”

October 2020

Conspiracy theorists saw a photograph taken of Trump and Melania onboard the Marine One helicopter as they headed to a presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee, in October 2020.

The image quickly went viral, with some claiming the first lady’s smile and teeth looked ‘different’ to how they normally do.

This rumour mill prompted an investigation by USA Today, which confirmed the body sub gossip was ‘false’.

April 2025

Melania was accused of using a ‘body double’ once again in April 2025. All she did this time was attend Pope Francis’ funeral.

Dressed in a black blazer dress and veil, she was seen paying her respects at the Vatican. However, these pictures caused one social media user to write: “Holy smokes! ! Where is Melania? ? No one's fooled by the body double beside Trump. This one is finally revealed as the fake Melania. Look at those un-sunglassed eyes: overly made up, not Melania's eyes or cheekbones.”

June 2025

Last summer, Trump and Melania attended a military parade to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary - though sceptics were once again distracted by the 'body double' conspiracy.

“The Army keeps us free, you make us strong, and tonight you've made all Americans very proud,” Trump said during a speech.

“Every other country celebrates their victories. It's about time America did too. That's what we're doing tonight.”