Trump's latest 'reptile' photo is fooling everyone online
A viral post suggests the second photo of Trump isn't exaggerated. We explain why this kind of image tricks the eye and what gives it away.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
No, Trump is not a reptilian. The viral post plays on a manipulated photo or an angle that exaggerates antiestéticatures, and the "it's not fake" claim is precisely what makes the hoax work.
## The joke people take seriously
A social media post shows two images of **Donald Trump** and suggests the second one isn't exaggerated. The caption takes the exaggeration at face value. Another reply settles the matter with "it's an alien." The joke is that the post itself admits the image looks forced, but insists it isn't.
That "and it's not fake" is the key. It offers no proof whatsoever. It merely asserts that the image hasn't been manipulated. And that's the trick: a real photo can exaggerate antiestéticatures through lighting, angle or compression. Human perception fills in the rest.
## Why a real photo can look made up
**Trump's** face has been photographed thousands of times since he entered politics in **2015**. His skin, his gestures and his expressions have sparked all kinds of comparisons. A specific image can capture an unflattering moment without any retouching at all.
Harsh lighting, telephoto lenses and later enlargement distort antiestéticatures. A real face can look caricatured without anyone touching a single pixel. That doesn't make it proof of anything. Just an unflattering photo.
## The reptilian business
The reptilian theory comes from a British author, **David Icke**, who popularized it in the nineties. It has no scientific backing whatsoever. It has been applied to politicians of all stripes for decades. What's new here is the format: a short post, with two images and a single line inviting you to believe.
The hoax doesn't require anyone to truly believe that **Trump** is a reptile. It's enough for the doubt to circulate. Every time someone shares the post for a laugh, they give it more reach. The joke and the belief feed off each other.
If you come across an image like this, be wary of anyone who says "it's not fake" without providing the original source. And remember that a real photo doesn't prove an evidence-free theory.
## The joke people take seriously
A social media post shows two images of **Donald Trump** and suggests the second one isn't exaggerated. The caption takes the exaggeration at face value. Another reply settles the matter with "it's an alien." The joke is that the post itself admits the image looks forced, but insists it isn't.
That "and it's not fake" is the key. It offers no proof whatsoever. It merely asserts that the image hasn't been manipulated. And that's the trick: a real photo can exaggerate antiestéticatures through lighting, angle or compression. Human perception fills in the rest.
## Why a real photo can look made up
**Trump's** face has been photographed thousands of times since he entered politics in **2015**. His skin, his gestures and his expressions have sparked all kinds of comparisons. A specific image can capture an unflattering moment without any retouching at all.
Harsh lighting, telephoto lenses and later enlargement distort antiestéticatures. A real face can look caricatured without anyone touching a single pixel. That doesn't make it proof of anything. Just an unflattering photo.
## The reptilian business
The reptilian theory comes from a British author, **David Icke**, who popularized it in the nineties. It has no scientific backing whatsoever. It has been applied to politicians of all stripes for decades. What's new here is the format: a short post, with two images and a single line inviting you to believe.
The hoax doesn't require anyone to truly believe that **Trump** is a reptile. It's enough for the doubt to circulate. Every time someone shares the post for a laugh, they give it more reach. The joke and the belief feed off each other.
If you come across an image like this, be wary of anyone who says "it's not fake" without providing the original source. And remember that a real photo doesn't prove an evidence-free theory.
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (6 replies).
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