Donald Trump reportedly gives his senior officials ill-fitting shoes as a test of loyalty, according to a recent article by Marina Hyde. The tradition, which involves the president guessing or demanding shoe sizes, has been embraced by figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Rubio, in particular, has been seen wearing shoes visibly too large for him, a move interpreted as a humiliating gesture of submission.
Vance recounted the practice in an interview, noting that Trump often leans back and remarks, “You can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size.” Vance himself wears a size 13. The shoes, a specific brand of black Oxfords, are reportedly worn by all three men despite not fitting properly. A White House official told the Wall Street Journal, “It’s hysterical because everybody’s afraid not to wear them.”
The symbolism is not lost on observers. Hyde draws parallels to fairy tales, suggesting Rubio resembles a child playing dress-up in his father’s shoes. The article also notes that all three men are seen as potential future presidential candidates, yet they endure this ritual to remain in Trump’s favor. The humiliation extends beyond footwear: Hegseth, for instance, recently banned press photographers from the Pentagon briefing room after “unflattering” photos emerged.
Critics argue that this dynamic reflects a broader culture of sycophancy within the Trump administration. Hyde contrasts the current officials with past secretaries of state like John Quincy Adams or George Marshall, who filled “big shoes” in a literal and metaphorical sense. The article concludes that Trump’s henchmen must balance vanity with indignity, submitting to regular humiliations while aspiring to higher office.
