Melania Trump values her privacy and is rarely spotted in public, so some wonder if the viral photo of her partying with her husband, Donald Trump, at Mar-a-Lago is legit.

Last week, Israeli model Noy Tawil shared a series of photos on Instagram from a lavish event in Donald Trump's Florida estate. One snap caught the public's attention as it featured the model with the former first couple, Donald and Melania.

U.S. first lady Melania Trump
Melania Trump hosts a roundtable discussion on cyber safety and technology with industry experts in the State Dining Room at the White House March 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla

The picture sparked conspiracy theories about the Trumps. Many claimed it must be edited and questioned Melania and Donald's relationship.

"Melania hasn't been seen at a social event with Trump in so long that the propagandists are resorting to photoshopped pics to try and fool people they are together," one wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Another added, "That's not even a good Photoshop image, geez! Least they could do is try."

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump
Former U.S. President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump arrive for a New Years event at his Mar-a-Lago home on December 31, 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida. Getty Images/Joe Raedle

"If Melania is smiling next to Trump, then you know the image is photoshopped," a third person claimed.

"Melania can't stand her own husband," a different person alleged with a face with tears of joy emoji.

Meanwhile, some defended Melania and Donald. The couple's supporters claimed the issue only sprang from the critics' hate for the Trumps.

Donald Trump and Melania Trump
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at the Freedom Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center January 20, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images

"No one is photoshopping anything except for you. Imagine having so much hate that you would stoop to this level of dishonesty," one said.

"Deep down they hate [T]rump & Melania's dynamic," another added.

Former US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump
Former US President Donald Trump, joined by former US First Lady Melania Trump, arrives to speak at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 15, 2022. Getty Images/Alon Skuy

Donald and Melania's relationship has been plagued with various speculations for years. When they were spotted riding separate cars at her mom Amalija Knavs' funeral in January, many took to social media to claim that it was an indication they were living "separate lives."

"Separate beds. Separate rooms. Separate lives," one wrote on X at the time.


Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Barron Trump
Former US President Donald Trump (R) stands with his wife Melania Trump (2L) their son Barron Trump (C) and father-in-law Viktor Knavs, at the start of a funeral for Amalija Knavs, the former first lady's mother, outside the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, in Palm Beach, Florida, on January 18, 2024. GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images

However, Judi James, a leading communications and body language expert who has appeared regularly on BBC News, Sky News, GB News and CNN, explained that the couple deliberately kept their distance from each other, so they could maintain their "composure" at the funeral.

"The lack of touch here could be deliberate. When someone has to mourn in public, it is common to worry that acts of comfort, support and affection can make them lose their composure completely, and that might be Melania's concern that she needs to stay in control of her emotions at this very public moment for the ex-FLOTUS," James said.

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Melania trump, Donald trump, Photoshop