Donald Trump is reportedly handing out his favorite brand of affordable dress shoes to all his courtiers — and many are “afraid” not to wear them in front of him.
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the fashion-conscious president has been foisting Florsheim leather oxfords on aides, officials, and visiting VIPs after taking a shine to the Wisconsin-based shoemaker.
Recipients have reportedly made sure to wear them when Trump is near, apparently sometimes reluctantly. At around $145, or even as low as $59.90 on clearance, they aren’t exactly haute couture.
“It’s hysterical because everybody’s afraid not to wear them,” one insider told the WSJ. “All the boys have them,” another said.
Trump himself has apparently often changed topics to praise the “incredible” shoes during official meetings, or ask whether aides have received their pair yet. Sometimes he tries to guess people’s shoe size in front of them.
Reported recipients include Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Communications Director Steven Cheung, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, far-right pundit Tucker Carlson, and Fox News host Sean Hannity are also said to be among owners of the shoes.
“Marco, JD, you guys have s—y shoes,”Trump declared during one meeting with Vance and Rubio in the Oval Office last December, according to Vance himself.
Vance told the WSJ that Trump then produced a Florsheim catalogue and asked everyone their size. When another man said he wore size 7 shoes, Vance said, Trump “kind of leans back in his chair and says, ‘You know, you can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size.'”
More than one person recounted an episode in which a cabinet secretary grumbled that he was having to wear Florsheim shoes instead of his usual Louis Vuittons.
Thomas Florsheim Jr, the CEO of Florsheim’s parent company, said he was not aware of Trump’s preferences and declined to comment further.
The Independent has asked the White House for comment.
