Alabama - A conspiracy theory that Melania Trump uses a body double for some public appearances has reared its head again after she visited Alabama with US President Donald Trump to meet those affected by a tornado that killed 23 people.

With Mrs Trump wearing an oversized pair of sunglasses that hid most of her face, critics suggested it was not the normally immaculately turned out 48-year-old – a former model from Slovenia – but a less-than- first-class stand-in.

Suspicions about a body double first surfaced in October 2017 when Mrs Trump, in large sunglasses and a trench coat, stood next to Mr Trump as he gave a speech on the White House lawn, and the President awkwardly referred to "my wife, Melania, who happens to be right here".

In the photographs from Friday’s Alabama visit, the First Lady looks downcast while standing next to the President, with unusual lighting conditions making it difficult to recognise her. On Twitter, one user wrote that the "recasting of Melania was the worst I’ve ever seen" and the hashtag "Fake Melania" became one of the most-used of the day.