In June 2025, former President Donald Trump reignited controversy by sharing a fringe conspiracy theory on Truth Social, alleging that President Joe Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by a robotic clone. The post, which Trump reposted from an anonymous account, claimed that “clones, doubles” and “robotic engineered soulless mindless entities” have been appearing publicly as Biden.
This theory, lacking any credible evidence, has been circulating among some of Trump’s supporters, who point to supposed anomalies in Biden’s appearance and behavior—such as changes in earlobes, eye color, and speech patterns—as “proof” of a body double or clone. These claims echo earlier conspiracy theories that have targeted public figures with similar unfounded allegations
The spread of this conspiracy theory has drawn widespread criticism and satire. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel mocked the illogical nature of conflating robots and clones, suggesting that if Biden were truly a robot, he wasn’t a well-made one. Stephen Colbert also ridiculed the theory, highlighting its inconsistencies and satirically referencing a fictional “Project Build Back Better” that supposedly created a “Joe-bot.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of Trump promoting baseless conspiracy theories. Over the years, he has amplified various unfounded claims, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the death of Osama bin Laden, and the 2020 election. The promotion of such theories has raised concerns about the impact of misinformation on public discourse and trust in democratic institutions
In the context of President Biden’s recent announcement of his aggressive stage four prostate cancer diagnosis, the propagation of this conspiracy theory is particularly troubling. It not only undermines serious discussions about his health but also exemplifies how misinformation can be weaponized for political purposes
Overall, the dissemination of the “Biden clone” conspiracy theory by a former president underscores the challenges posed by misinformation in the digital age and the importance of critical thinking and media literacy among the public.
