Overview
- The Wall Street Journal detailed Trump buying roughly $145 Florsheims for agency heads, aides and allies, expanding the roster of named recipients.
- Reported recipients include JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Sean Duffy, Pete Hegseth, Howard Lutnick, Steven Cheung, James Blair, Ross Worthington, and allies Sean Hannity, Lindsey Graham and Tucker Carlson.
- Accounts describe Trump guessing shoe sizes, having aides place orders, and sending signed boxes, then opening meetings by asking, “Did you get the shoes?”
- A widely shared image showed Rubio wearing a pair that appeared too large, and some staff say they feel obliged to don the shoes in Trump’s presence, with one cabinet member shelving Louis Vuittons.
- The White House says Trump pays for the gifts, while Florsheim executive Thomas Florsheim Jr. said he was unaware of the orders and declined further comment.