Trump Can't Stop Gifting Oversized Florsheim Shoes to Cabinet

The 79-year-old president has been obsessed with handing out dress shoes to his staffers, sometimes comically oversized.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:04pm

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President Donald Trump has taken it upon himself to purchase unsolicited Florsheim shoes for members of his staff and Cabinet, sometimes guessing their shoe sizes incorrectly, leading to some recipients being mocked online for wearing comically oversized footwear. The president has defended his shoe-gifting habit, saying he wants his Cabinet to look "spiffy and nice" instead of wearing sneakers.

Why it matters

Trump's shoe-buying habit highlights his personal fixation on appearance and branding, as well as the power dynamics at play where Cabinet members feel compelled to wear the president's chosen footwear despite the poor fit. The story also touches on the ongoing trade tensions between the Trump administration and the Florsheim brand's parent company.

The details

According to reports, Trump has been guessing the shoe sizes of his Cabinet members and other top officials, then ordering Florsheim shoes for them. The president has defended the practice, saying he wants his team to look professional and not wear sneakers. However, the ill-fitting shoes, particularly on Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have drawn mockery online. The Florsheim brand's parent company, Weyco Group, has also sued the Trump administration over its tariffs.

  • In a Friday interview, Trump discussed his shoe-gifting habit.
  • The Wall Street Journal first reported on Trump's Florsheim shoe obsession in December.

The players

Donald Trump

The 79-year-old president of the United States who has been gifting Florsheim shoes to his Cabinet members and staff.

Marco Rubio

The 54-year-old U.S. Secretary of State who was mocked online for wearing visibly oversized Florsheim shoes gifted by Trump.

Weyco Group

The company that owns the Florsheim shoe brand and has sued the Trump administration over its tariffs.

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What they’re saying

“What I do is, as somebody that for many, many years has walked around in shoes that were no good—and, you know, would not be that comfortable—so I have fun with it. When they tell me they have a problem, I say, 'Let me get you a pair of shoes.' And seems to work out pretty well. Now they look all spiffy and nice.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“It's hysterical because everybody's afraid not to wear them.”

— Female White House official

What’s next

Weyco Group's lawsuit against the Trump administration over tariffs is ongoing, with the company seeking a $16 million refund.

The takeaway

Trump's fixation on his Cabinet members' appearance and his insistence that they wear the Florsheim shoes he selects for them, even when the sizes are comically off, highlights the president's personal branding obsession and the power dynamics at play in his administration.