  We discuss theoretical predictions for the thermal Casimir force and compare
them with available experimental data. Special attention is paid to the recent
claim of the observation of that effect, as predicted by the Drude model
approach. We show that this claim is in contradiction with a number of
experiments reported so far. We suggest that the experimental errors, as
reported in support of the observation of the thermal Casimir force, are
significantly underestimated. Furthermore, the experimental data at separations
above $3\,\mu$m are shown to be in agreement not with the Drude model approach,
as is claimed, but with the plasma model. The seeming agreement of the data
with the Drude model at separations below $3\,\mu$m is explained by the use of
an inadequate formulation of the proximity force approximation.
