There’s a unique sign that indicates someone has earned favor with former President Donald Trump: a gift of a pair of oxfords.
According to recent reports, Trump has been bestowing $145 leather shoes from the Florsheim brand to Cabinet members, lawmakers, White House advisers, and other political figures.
The Wall Street Journal describes this footwear as the “hottest and most exclusive MAGA status symbol.”
Among those who have received these coveted Florsheim shoes are Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.
The list of recipients extends to Fox News personality Sean Hannity, former Fox host Tucker Carlson, and Senator Lindsey Graham, along with White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair.
Insiders reveal that Trump often attempts to guess the shoe sizes of potential recipients in person. Subsequently, he instructs an aide to place the order, which the White House asserts he pays for out of pocket. A week later, a brown Florsheim shoe box, complete with Trump’s signature and occasionally a personal note, arrives for the lucky recipient.
‘All the boys have them,’ a female White House official told the WSJ.
Another claimed: ‘It’s hysterical because everybody’s afraid not to wear them.’
President Donald 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 new report
Those who get a pair from Trump feel obligated to wear them around the President.
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 World War I and World War II. 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.
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 at cabinet meetings to his agency leaders.
It’s 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.’
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
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is one of the many who has received a box from Trump. He was already familiar with the shoes – donning boots from the brand during his 2016 presidential campaign
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.
