Donald Trump's association with conspiracy theories and falsehoods has become a characteristic of his political persona, publicly sharing widely-disputed ideas and plots with his supporters.
However, it was his wife Melania Trump who was this week alleged to have shown her admiration for unorthodox views in a viral TikTok attributed to her, praising "conspiracy theorists", "energy healing", "crystals" and "mother Gaia."
The Claim
A TikTok by user @thetruthseeker33, aka Timothy Lafortune, posted on October 7, 2023 and viewed 357,000 times, includes an audio clip attributed to Melania Trump addressing "all the crazy conspiracy theorists and healers out there" among a wide number of individuals that she took her "hat off to." A caption above the Lafortune TikTok says: "We Love You Melania! The Real First Lady."
A reupload of this TikTok by user @goodwins83, posted on October 11, 2023, was viewed a further 508,900 times.
The video's narrator namechecks people who were "laughed at, abused on social media and called insane for years but who still stand up for what you believe in and try to get the truth out to the public."
"For all the hippies, lightworkers, starseeds, wayshowers and alternative therapists, who have always felt alienated and different but never stopped being that person who tries to offer a different perspective to things," it adds.
"You learned about energy healing, crystals, mother Gaia and healing therapy while those around you laughed. You were different and weird and never were one for conforming."
"For the sensitives and empaths whose hearts break knowing about the human trafficking and the pedophile rings and more."
The Facts
The video is not of the former First Lady.
Apart from the fact that the narrator does not sound particularly like Melania Trump, it's a re-upload of a YouTube video from September 2020 by self-described "digital creator" Åsa Larsdotter Falck.
The original video, which has 131,233 views, is the only film posted on Falck's channel. A comment left by Falck under the video states "This is my first video but hopefully not my last."
It has been widely shared elsewhere online since, in some cases with other inaccurate attributions to Melania Trump, such as this reupload on video-sharing site BitChute.
While there are no other videos of Falck on her YouTube channel, her Instagram page includes clips where you can clearly hear the same voice as in the TikTok incorrectly attributed to Melania Trump.
Falck states on her Instagram that she is "currently offline". Newsweek has contacted Falck through the social media network and a representative for Donald Trump via email for comment.
Melania found herself in the headlines this week following the release of a Mitt Romney biography, in which it's alleged Donald Trump once bragged of plans to "drop" his then-girlfriend and now wife.
Trump's team hit back at the claims in the book, calling Romney "a loser" who was "creating false stories to stay relevant."
The Ruling
False.
Melania Trump did not praise "energy healing" and "crystals". The video shared on TikTok was posted three years ago by "digital creator" Åsa Larsdotter Falck. It has been falsely attributed to Melania Trump on a number of occasions.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
