A $145 Shoe Ignites the White House: A New Obsession of President Donald Trump Sparks Controversy

A report by the "Wall Street Journal" revealed a striking phenomenon within the White House, characterized by American President Donald Trump's obsession with a specific type of relatively inexpensive shoes, to the extent that he began gifting them to his ministers, advisors, and senior officials, even personally monitoring whether they wear them or not.

Favorite Shoes Turn into a "Trend" within the Administration

According to the report, Trump has developed a strong admiration for shoes from the American brand Florsheim, which cost around $145. Over time, these shoes have become akin to a "casual uniform" within the halls of the White House.
The American president started distributing them to friends and advisors, stating that "all men own them," before the list of recipients expanded to include government officials, legislators, and media figures.

Surprising Gifts Inside the Oval Office

The newspaper indicates that Trump has a habit of looking at the attendees' shoes during meetings and guessing their sizes, then asking one of his aides to buy the shoes and send them later.
A few days later, a brown box bearing the Florsheim logo arrives at their offices within the White House, and sometimes Trump personally signs the box or includes a thank-you note.
He even asks during Cabinet meetings:
"Did you receive the shoes?".
Officials Wearing Them... Some Reluctantly
According to the report, several senior officials received these shoes, including Vice President J. D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in addition to other ministers and officials within the administration.

Some have started wearing them during meetings in front of Trump, while others have done so reluctantly, according to the newspaper's sources.
One minister even complained, according to the report, about having to temporarily give up his luxurious Louis Vuitton bags in favor of the "new shoe trend" in the White House.

From Seeking Comfort to a Phenomenon within the Administration

According to informed sources, Trump's interest in these shoes began late last year when he was looking for a comfortable shoe after a long workday. After trying them, he liked them so much that he began ordering them in bulk and gifting them to those around him.
The White House confirmed that Trump pays for the shoes out of his own pocket.

An Old Tradition... with a New Twist

In fact, presidential gifts are not a new phenomenon in American history. U.S. presidents have traditionally given symbolic gifts to guests and employees.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt used to give keychains featuring his famous dog "Fala," while Lyndon B. Johnson was known for gifting electric toothbrushes bearing the presidential seal.
President George W. Bush preferred to give cufflinks to guests.
However, Trump's shoes add a different touch to this tradition, as they have transformed from mere symbolic gifts into a phenomenon within the White House that the president personally monitors.