Trump has started an interesting new tradition.
President Donald Trump has reportedly started a surprising new tradition inside the White House—personally gifting dress shoes to some of the most powerful officials in his administration.
The unusual present? Classic Florsheim dress shoes, a historic American brand that has quietly become a small but noticeable status symbol among top members of Trump’s team.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Trump has surprised Cabinet members, senior White House advisers, and even members of Congress with the footwear. In several cases, the president has reportedly guessed the recipient’s shoe size himself and instructed staff to place the order.
Even more surprising, Trump is said to pay for the shoes personally.
During Cabinet meetings, the president has reportedly followed up with recipients with a simple question:
“Did you get the shoes?”
Several Top Officials Already Have a Pair
A number of prominent administration figures have reportedly received the unexpected gift.
Among them are:
- Vice President JD Vance
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
- War Secretary Pete Hegseth
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
According to one White House official quoted in the report, the gift has become something of an inside joke within the administration.
“All the boys have them,” the official reportedly said.
Why Trump Chose Florsheim
The story reportedly began when President Trump started searching for comfortable dress shoes suitable for long workdays.
He eventually settled on Florsheim, a well-known American footwear company famous for producing durable, traditional dress shoes. Most pairs retail for around $145, making them relatively modest compared with luxury brands often seen in Washington.
Since then, some officials have reportedly begun wearing the shoes during meetings with the president—sometimes enthusiastically, and sometimes a bit reluctantly.
Still, the shoes have quickly become a small but noticeable tradition inside Trump’s administration.
The Oval Office Moment That Started It
The trend reportedly began during a December meeting inside the Oval Office.
During the meeting, Trump noticed the shoes worn by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to the report, the president suggested they might need an upgrade and asked both men for their shoe sizes.
Vance later recalled Trump joking during the exchange:
“You know, you can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size.”
Not long after, photos of Rubio’s new shoes circulated online. Some critics on social media even joked that the pair looked slightly oversized, sparking a wave of humorous commentary.
A Brand With Deep American Roots
Florsheim is not a new name in American fashion.
The company was founded in Chicago in 1892 and later supplied footwear to U.S. troops during both World Wars. At one time, even President Harry Truman was known to wear the brand.
Today, Florsheim is owned by the Weyco Group, a Wisconsin-based company.
Interestingly, Thomas Florsheim Jr., the company’s CEO and a fifth-generation member of the founding family, told The Wall Street Journal he was unaware that the president had been purchasing shoes for officials inside the administration.
A Lighthearted Moment in Washington
In a city often dominated by serious policy debates and political battles, the story has added a rare lighthearted moment inside the White House.
What started as a practical search for comfortable work shoes has quietly turned into an unusual tradition among Trump’s top officials.
And now, inside the administration, there’s one question that apparently carries more weight than anyone expected: “Did you get the shoes?”
