Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

More Info

I would like to contribute

$
Threads posts
Threads posts
stated on November 5, 2024 in a post:

A Melania Trump impostor accompanied former President Donald Trump to the polls Nov. 5.

False
By Ciara O'Rourke
November 5, 2024

No, a Melania Trump impostor didn’t accompany Donald Trump to the polls; it was his wife

If your time is short

  • Claims former President Donald Trump voted Nov. 5 alongside someone pretending to be his wife are unfounded. Numerous news outlets identified the former first lady in their Election Day coverage.

See the sources for this fact-check

Former President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump cast their ballots Nov. 5 at a polling station in a Palm Beach, Florida, recreation center. 

Social media posts soon invigorated an old conspiracy theory that Trump was accompanied not by his wife, but by a body double for the former first lady. 

Umm, that is NOT Melania,” an X post said. “Sorry. I’m not buying it. Whoever was at the polls today with Don, WASN’T MELANIA.”

“Dude showed up with FakeMelania bless his heart,” a Threads post said. 

“He used fake Melania,” another Threads post said. 

These Threads posts were flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

Melania Trump wore dark sunglasses as Donald Trump spoke to reporters after voting for himself in the 2024 presidential election, and some news coverage noted her affectless demeanor. 

“Today appears to be one of mourning, apathy, or perhaps a head-splitting hangover,” The Cut said about the former first lady. 

But claims Melania Trump wasn’t there are baseless. 

Numerous journalists captured the moment. Photo and video captions identify her as Melania Trump.

The Palm Beach Post described the trip to the ballot box as a “rare public appearance” as she “voted alongside her husband.”

We rate claims that Trump voted with a “Fake Melania” False.

 
Our Sources

Threads post, Nov. 5, 2024

Threads post, Nov. 5, 2024

X post, Nov. 5, 2024

USA Today, Fact check: Images show Melania Trump, not a body double, Oct. 27, 2020

The Cut, How Excited Does Melania Look to Vote?, Nov. 5, 2024

The Palm Beach Post, On Election Day, where's Melania? Former first lady votes alongside Trump near Mar-a-Lago, Nov. 5, 2024

YouTube, LIVE: Donald Trump, Melania Trump cast their vote in Palm Beach, Nov. 5, 2024

U.S. News & World Report, PHOTO COLLECTION: US Election Day 2024 Trump, Nov. 5, 2024

 

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Ciara O'Rourke
Viral image
stated on April 2, 2025 a Facebook post
“White hats to investigate Wisconsin Supreme Court election.”
False
Facebook posts
stated on March 28, 2025 a Facebook post
Photo shows a missing police officer in “extreme danger.”
Pants on Fire!
Facebook posts
stated on March 28, 2025 a Facebook post
Images show damage from an “earthquake in Thailand.”
False

Marjorie Taylor Greene didn’t author this X post about incest. This is fake

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on January 7, 2026 a press briefing

stated on January 14, 2026 a statement

Social Media
stated on February 14, 2026 social media posts



stated on January 20, 2026 an op-ed


Donald Trump
stated on February 3, 2026 remarks in the Oval Office


Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 social media posts





Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on stated on November 17, 2025 in remarks at George Washington University:

Donald Trump
stated on February 2, 2026 an interview with Dan Bongino