Joe Biden’s chin in Israel video sparks conspiracy theory

A video of President Joe Biden following his trip to Israel has sparked an unusual conspiracy theory online, with some social-media users accusing the U.S. leader of skipping out on the trip and using a body double.

In the live footage broadcast by CNN on October 18, Biden addressed reporters aboard Air Force One, where he discussed the need for humanitarian aid for those in Israel and the Gaza Strip.

On October 7, Palestinian militants Hamas led the deadliest attack on Israel in history by land, sea and air, with the Israelis then launching airstrikes on Gaza. As of October 20, at least 1,400 people had been killed in Israel, the Associated Press reported, according to the Israeli military. At least 3,785 people have been killed in Gaza, the AP said, citing the Gaza Health Ministry.

“Virtually every mass shooting, every circumstance, where a large number of people have been victimized and lost, I spoke to them… I learned a long time ago, but you all learned in your life as well,” Biden said, while grabbing his chin and looking down at the floor pensively.

“When someone’s going through something that is beyond their comprehension that they never thought they’d have to go through, if they see someone who they think understands who went through something not the same but similar, it gives them some sense of hope,” Biden added.

However, some social-media users were more concerned with the 80-year-old’s appearance than his message. They wrote that the interview was delivered by an imposter wearing a mask, rather than the real president.

“For those that don’t know that’s not joe Biden it’s a mask,” wrote one user on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. “If you don’t believe [me], look up pictures of Biden when he was vice president not the same person.”

“What happened to his chin? It’s a mask!” posted Susan, while @JackPosobiec added: “Holy shlit.”

“They’ve been pretty good up until now making sure he never spends too long in a hot room so the mask will start coming off of his chin,” wrote @ArmourofGod14.

“The real Joe Biden did not go to Israel,” added @LeesonFreedom.

“It really looks like Joe Biden is wearing a skin mask of his own face,” commented Toni, while Micki Larson-Olson posted: “Do you finally believe us.”

Other users defended the president, with Domenic Costello writing: “This why this world is s***. People make jokes about everything takes nothing serious and are just stupid.”

“I don’t think joe biden is wearing a mask or whatever it just looks like a facelift or face tape to me they’re trying to subtly yassify him,” wrote @fillefoux.

“Sometimes I honestly believe there is an Army of ‘conservative leaning’ profiles who are really just plants who aim to continually steer the dialog towards jokes, sarcasm and defeatism,” posted David Fileger.

This isn’t the first time Biden has been accused of being a body double in a mask. In April, X user Stew Peters shared a clip of the politician scratching his neck during a meet-and-greet in Dublin.

The scratch leaves what appears to be a slight indentation in his skin, with the person filming the video saying: “Oh my gosh, that’s a mask! Holy cow!”

However, there is no evidence that the president was wearing a mask, with Newsweek‘s Fact Check team analyzing the footage and concluding the video was “misleading.”

Other bizarre conspiracy theories include that the White House uses a CGI version of Biden in video messages, and that Biden is actually dead, with his (non-existent) twin brother Beau taking over as president.

Newsweek has reached out to Joe Biden for comment via email.