When Trump deemed the shoes of his most senior Cabinet members, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, too shabby, he ordered them a pair of his favorite Oxfords.
The President, in an anecdote told by Vance earlier this year, asked about their shoe sizes.
Rubio said he was an 11-and-a-half, Vance a 13 and a third politician, whom Vance did not name, said he was a size 7.
Trump crudely joked: ‘You know, you can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size.’
Now, a photo of Rubio’s feet is going viral after reporting this week revealed that Trump has bestowed the $145 Florsheim dress shoes on multiple cabinet secretaries, with many feeling obliged to wear them.
Rubio’s pair appeared to be on the large side with a noticeable gap between his heel and the back of the shoe.
As the image went viral, speculation swirled that Rubio had exaggerated his shoe size, given the President’s fixation with foot size.
‘They all told the President their shoe sizes were bigger than they are because of the exact same reason a 12-year-old would,’ said one commenter on X.
President Trump has bestowed $145 Florsheim dress shoes on multiple Cabinet secretaries, with many apparently feeling obliged to wear them, including Marco Rubio
The Secretary of State’s footwear caused a stir online after appearing to be on the larger side, with a noticeable gap between his heel and the back of the shoe on Capitol Hill on January 7
JD Vance, Rubio and Pete Hegseth are all said to be recipients of the Florsheim footwear
People familiar with the ritual detail how the President guesses people’s shoe size in front of them. Later, he will have an aide put in an order, which the White House claims he personally pays for, and a week later send off a brown Florsheim shoebox, bearing his signature and sometimes a note.
Recipients of the Florsheim footwear include Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, the Wall Street Journal reported.
‘All the boys have them,’ said a female White House official. ‘It’s hysterical because everybody’s afraid not to wear them,’ said another.
Fox News star Sean Hannity, former Fox personality Tucker Carlson and Senator Lindsey Graham also have the shoes, as does White House deputy Chief of Staff James Blair.
Some sources heard a cabinet secretary complain about feeling the need to hang up their Louis Vuitton shoes to wear the Florsheims when they come to the White House.
The American shoe brand is relatively affordable compared to other dress shoe brands. Most dress loafers and oxfords come in at a grand total of $145, and some on sale can reach as low as $50.
Florsheim was founded in 1892 in Chicago by German immigrant Sigmund Florsheim and his son Milton. The company outfitted American soldiers in the First and Second World Wars. President Harry Truman donned them and Michael Jackson famously moonwalked in their loafers.
Fifth-generation Florsheim, Thomas Florsheim Jr, when reached by phone, said he was unaware of the President’s shoe orders and declined to comment on his affinity for the brand.
President Trump has, for the last year, taken an affinity with gifting Florsheim brand shoes to male Cabinet officials, lawmakers, advisers and politicians, according to a report
Florsheim was founded in 1892 in Chicago by German immigrant Sigmund Florsheim and his son Milton. Their male oxford and loafers usually run around $145, which Trump personally pays when gifting them
Rubio was already familiar with the shoes – donning boots from the brand during his 2016 presidential campaign
Apparently, Trump fell in love with Florsheim shoes late last year when he was searching for footwear that would feel better after a day of work. Shortly after, he began dispensing them to his allies.
‘Did you get the shoes?’ Trump will ask his agency leaders at cabinet meetings.
It is unclear the reason why Trump, who is known for his expensive Brioni suits and love for aesthetics, was looking for a new shoe brand. But he has snubbed compression socks that could help with his chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that causes swelling in the calves and ankles.
Speaking with the Journal in January, Trump admitted he briefly tried wearing the medical compression stockings but stopped because he ‘didn’t like them.’
Rubio and Vance got their shoes from Trump after a December Oval Office meeting.
The Vice President recalled during an event the same day, celebrating Kennedy Center honoree Sylvester Stallone, how Trump looked over the Resolute Desk at their feet and said: ‘Marco, JD, you guys have s****y shoes.’
He then opened a catalog and asked Vance, Rubio and a third unnamed politician their shoe sizes, which were 13, 11.5 and 6, according to the VP.
‘The President kind of leans back in his chair and says, ‘You know you can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size,’ ‘ Vance said during the December remarks.
