Fact Check: Did Trump claim Joe Biden was replaced by a 'masked clone'?

WASHINGTON, DC: A viral X post has sparked widespread attention after claiming that President Donald Trump alleged that Joe Biden had been replaced by a masked clone.

The post revives a long-running fringe conspiracy theory suggesting that the real Biden has been substituted with actors, masks, clones, deepfakes, or even robots, often linked to claims about his alleged death or incapacity.

Claim: Donald Trump said Joe Biden was replaced with a masked clone

An X user, @BGatesIsaPsycho, shared a post featuring a split-screen video that compares a humanoid robot’s mechanical walk on pallets with footage of Joe Biden walking energetically on a beach alongside Jill Biden.

The post suggests that Biden’s movements appear artificial or unnatural and repeats the claim that Donald Trump said Biden had been replaced by a “masked clone.” It also pointed to Biden’s relatively limited public appearances as former president, alleging he is seen roughly once every few months, and includes the caption, “Trump literally said ‘They replaced Joe Biden with a Masked Clone,’” followed by a question asking why the former president is rarely seen in public.

The claim draws from a broader and long-running conspiracy theory that has circulated since the 2020 United States presidential election. Early versions of the narrative appeared in late 2019 and early 2020, fueled by perceived inconsistencies in Biden’s appearance and behavior.

The theory also continued to circulate during Biden’s presidency from 2021 to 2024, often resurfacing during periods of lower public visibility or notable public appearances.

After he left office, the narrative persisted and was revived again during moments such as public speaking gaffes at events like D-Day commemorations and G7 appearances, with some posts alleging the use of “CIA mask technology” or doppelgangers.

Fact Check: Donald Trump did not use the phrase 'masked clone' for Joe Biden

Donald Trump did not explicitly state that Joe Biden was replaced by a masked clone. Although Trump did not specifically use the phrase “masked clone,” he amplified a closely related conspiracy narrative.

But the POTUS reposted a conspiracy theory on Truth Social alleging that Joe Biden was “executed in 2020” and replaced by “clones, doubles, and robotic engineered soulless mindless entities.” 

The report aligns with a broader pattern in which Trump has engaged with or promoted body-double and clone theories involving Biden.

However, there is no credible evidence that Biden has been replaced by a mask, clone, robot, or body double. The conspiracy theory first emerged during 2019 and 2020, driven by online speculation over video anomalies, lighting inconsistencies, and public gaffes. It later spread across social media platforms, and unverified submissions linked to the Epstein files.

While Trump did amplify conspiracy theories about Biden being replaced, and Biden has maintained a relatively low public profile since leaving office, the central allegation that he is a “masked clone” remains entirely unsubstantiated. The comparison between Biden and a humanoid robot in the video serves as visual rhetoric rather than factual evidence.