Humiliating photo of Marco Rubio’s feet goes viral after it’s revealed Trump shames aides over shoe size
When Trump thought the shoes of his top Cabinet members, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were too old, he ordered them a pair of his favorite Oxfords.
The president asked about shoe sizes in an anecdote told by Vance earlier this year.
Rubio said he was 11.5 and Vance was 13, and a third politician, whom Vance did not name, also said he was a size 7.
Trump rudely joked: ‘You know, you can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size.’
After it was revealed this week that Trump gifted $145 Florsheim dress shoes to multiple cabinet secretaries, a photo of Rubio’s feet went viral and many felt compelled to wear them.
Rubio’s pair appeared to be on the wide side, with a noticeable gap between the heel and the back of the shoe.
As the image went viral, speculation arose that Rubio had exaggerated his shoe size, given the President’s obsession with foot size.
“They all told the President his shoe size was bigger than it was for the same reason as a 12-year-old,” one commenter on
President Trump has gifted $145 Florsheim dress shoes to multiple Cabinet secretaries, and many, including Marco Rubio, apparently feel compelled to wear them.
The Secretary of State’s shoes caused a stir online after she appeared on Capitol Hill on January 7, appearing larger, leaving a visible gap between her heel and the back of the shoe.
JD Vance, Rubio and Pete Hegseth are rumored to be buyers of Florsheim shoes
People familiar with the ritual detail how the President guesses people’s shoe sizes in front of them. He would then give an aide an order that he claimed the White House had personally paid for, and a week later he would send a brown Florsheim shoebox with his signature and sometimes a note.
According to the Wall Street Journal, those who bought Florsheim shoes include Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.
“All the boys have it,” a female White House official said. “This is hysterical because everyone is afraid of not wearing them,” another said.
Fox News star Sean Hannity, former Fox personality Tucker Carlson and Senator Lindsey Graham own the shoes, as well as White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair.
Some sources heard a cabinet secretary complain that he felt the need to hang up his Louis Vuitton shoes to wear Florsheims when he arrived at the White House.
The American shoe brand is relatively affordable compared to other dress shoe brands. The total price of most loafers and oxfords is $145, and some of the ones on sale are as low as $50.
Florsheim was founded in Chicago in 1892 by German immigrant Sigmund Florsheim and his son Milton. The company equipped American soldiers in World Wars I and II. President Harry Truman wore them, and Michael Jackson famously moonwalked in loafers.
When reached by phone, fifth-generation Florsheim, Thomas Florsheim Jr., said he was unaware of the President’s shoe orders and declined to comment on his interest in the brand.
According to the report, President Trump tended to gift Florsheim-brand shoes to male Cabinet officials, lawmakers, advisers and politicians last year.
Florsheim was founded in Chicago in 1892 by German immigrant Sigmund Florsheim and his son Milton. Men’s oxfords and loafers usually cost around $145, and Trump personally pays for them when gifting them.
Rubio was already familiar with shoes; She wore the brand’s boots during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump apparently fell in love with Florsheim shoes late last year, when he was looking for shoes that would make him feel better after a day’s work. After a short time, he began to distribute them to his allies.
‘Did you get your shoes?’ Trump will ask agency leaders at cabinet meetings.
It is unclear why Trump, known for his expensive Brioni suits and passion for aesthetics, is looking for a new shoe brand. But he refused to use compression stockings, which could have helped his chronic venous insufficiency, which caused swelling in his calves and ankles.
Speaking to the Journal in January, Trump admitted that he briefly tried wearing medical compression stockings but stopped because he “didn’t like it.”
Rubio and Vance took their shoes from Trump after their Oval Office meeting in December.
The Vice President recalled how, during an event celebrating Kennedy Center honoree Sylvester Stallone that same day, Trump looked at the Resolute Table at his feet and said: ‘Marco, JD, you have some nice shoes.’
He then opened a catalog and asked Vance, Rubio and a third unnamed politician for their shoe sizes, which were 13, 11.5 and 6, according to the Vice President.
“The president leans back in his chair and says, ‘You can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size,'” Vance said in his December speech.
