Trump confirms he buys shoes for his ministers - Story behind strange tradition
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump has publicly acknowledged that he sometimes buys shoes for members of his administration. He also explained the real purpose of such gifts. According to CNN, the US president said this in an interview with host Brian Kilmeade.
Trump publicly acknowledged that he sometimes buys shoes for members of his administration, but denied reports that he does so widely and at random.
What the media reported
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump allegedly guessed the shoe sizes of his officials and ordered aides to send them classic Florsheim shoes along with notes.
The president denied this information, though he described the shoes as high quality.
What Trump said
"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," he said.
According to the president, he offers to buy shoes for team members who complain about discomfort.
"Seems to work out pretty well. Now they look all spiffy and nice," Trump said.
He also criticized wearing sneakers in the office.
"I never like Cabinet members walking in on sneakers. Sneakers are wonderful, but I don’t want my Cabinet members wearing sneakers, so I'll get them a pair of shoes, it’s a gift from Donald Trump," he explained.
Vice President JD Vance said back in December that Trump bought him and Secretary of State Marco Rubio "four pairs of shoes" because he wanted the country's leaders to look presentable.
According to WSJ, the habit has even become a joke in the White House. One official told the outlet that some people are even afraid not to wear the gifted shoes.
Rubio was previously photographed wearing noticeably oversized shoes from the president.
The Times and The Guardian reported that other officials received similar gifts. Some of them privately complain that they wear the president’s shoes despite their own preferences.
Support for the US president has dropped to 38%, the lowest level of his entire second term.
The main reasons are Americans' dissatisfaction with the high cost of living and the scandal surrounding the case of Jeffrey Epstein.
