Explainer / All about the Florsheim shoe brand that has caught US President Donald Trump’s fancy
Trump has gifted J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth the US$145 Lexington model … but why is the brand owner suing his administration?
The unusual gifts were first reported last week in The Wall Street Journal, which said Trump had given out pairs of Florsheim shoes worth US$145 – at times even guessing people’s shoe size in front of them.
“It’s a nice shoe,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Radio when asked about the story. “What I do is, is somebody that for many many years has walked around in shoes that were no good, and would not be that comfortable,” said the 79-year-old Republican.
“So I have fun with it. When they tell me they have a problem, I say, ‘Let me get you a pair of shoes.’ It seems to work out pretty well. Now they look all spiffy and nice. It’s a gift from Donald Trump.”
“All the boys have them,” one female White House official reportedly told WSJ. Another joked, “It’s hysterical because everybody’s afraid not to wear them.”
One photo showed Rubio – a top contender for the 2028 Republican presidential candidate – in what appeared to be the same footwear, which looked too big in the heels. The image has delighted the internet, with several memes emerging and trolls quickly spreading the picture on platforms like X.
Here’s what to know about Trump’s favourite shoe brand.