Trump makes his shoes the White House uniform
Thursday, 12 March 2026
Not satisfied with being commander-in-chief, Donald Trump has become the White House’s very own shoe salesman.
The US president has been buying his favourite shoes for his staff so frequently that they have become the unofficial White House uniform.
One female White House official told the Wall Street Journal: “All the boys have them. It’s hysterical because everybody’s afraid not to wear them.”
Trump has fallen in love with Florsheim, a brand that sells some pairs for as little as $49.90 (NZ$84.70) – a far cry from his expensive Brioni suits.
The president has been buying the shoes for agency heads and members of Congress. He often speaks about how “incredible” they are.
Such is Trump’s devotion to the brand, that he guesses people’s shoe size in front of them, puts in the order, and a week later it turns up, sometimes with the president’s signature on the box.
That includes one unnamed cabinet secretary who had to stop wearing his Louis Vuittons and put on a pair of Florsheims instead.
Among those who have a pair of Trump-approved Florsheims are JD Vance, the vice-president, Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, and Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary.
Trump’s friends, Fox News personality Sean Hannity and Senator Lindsey Graham, also have a pair each.
Vance and Rubio are both said to have been given a pair of Florsheims after a meeting at the Oval Office in December when the president told them they had “s….y shoes”.
The president then pulled out a Florsheim catalogue and asked them for their shoe size.
Vance said: “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.’”
It is unclear which exact shoe Trump prefers, but recent photos of him show the president wearing black Oxfords.
Among the models that match are the Lexington, which costs $145 (NZ$246). According to the Florsheim website, it “brings together classic dress styles with lightweight comfort”.
The shoe offers a “fully cushioned footbed for all-day comfort” and a durable, light sole with a rubber tap for “added flexibility”.
Most reviewers gave the shoes four or five stars, with one saying it was a “classy cap toe Oxford”.
However, others complained that the quality had gone downhill recently and one complained that the sole split after less than a month.
Florsheim was founded in 1892 and is today part of a Wisconsin-based footwear company, Weyco.
Among those who have previously worn Florsheim shoes are Harry Truman, the former president, and Michael Jackson, who moonwalked in the brand’s loafers.
The Telegraph contacted the White House and Florsheim for comment.