Breaking News Reporter
Updated Oct. 31, 2023 8:22PM EDT
Published Oct. 31, 2023 7:01PM EDT
The Florida governor’s most recent attempt to deny that he wears lifts in his boots has stoked the fires of social media—and the former president’s—obsession.
Donald Trump can smell defeet. Ron DeSantis’, to be precise.
The question of whether the Florida governor stands less than 5 feet 10 inches tall has been the subject of online speculation for months, based largely on the observable fact that his chosen footwear along the campaign trail—black cowboy boots—look very, very odd. Almost like he could be wearing height-boosting insoles to make himself appear taller (and thereby more presidential).
The deeply reported-upon conspiracy theory reached a fever pitch this week, when podcast host Patrick Bet-David raised the issue directly to DeSantis’ face. The governor declared, too quickly, perhaps, that he was 5-foot-11 and that his boots were “just standard, off-the-rack Lucchese.” Then Politico went and asked three experts about it. The shoemakers agreed that yes, DeSantis was fudging his stature to give himself about 1.5 inches of extra height.
“I’ve dealt with these politicians many times,” Zephan Parker, the owner of a Houston-based bespoke boot maker, told Politico. “I’ve helped them with their lifts. [DeSantis] is wearing lifts; there’s no doubt.” Every aspect—the shaved heels, the wide shafts, where the balls of his feet are sitting—is a dead giveaway, the trio said.
Those wondering whether Trump had seen the story didn’t have long to wait. In a statement sent out hours after the article’s publication on Tuesday, the campaign sweatily declared victory, calling “#BOOTGATE” the “KISS OF DEATH” for the man once seen as his top rival in the Republican primary pool.
“Instead of telling the truth and just being comfortable in his own skin, he resorts to borderline psychotic behavior by lying to the American people,” the campaign crowed. “Is that what this country wants in a President?”
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