Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has found himself in the midst of controversy surrounding his footwear.[0] Speculation has arisen that DeSantis, who is 5-foot-11, may be wearing lifts inside his cowboy boots to appear taller.[0] Despite his denial of these claims, experts in the shoemaking industry have weighed in, suggesting that there are indeed signs of concealed lifts. This debate has gained traction after a viral clip of DeSantis wearing the boots during an appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher circulated on social media.[0]
During an appearance on conservative Patrick Bet-David’s podcast, DeSantis was shown the viral clip and asked about the speculation. He insisted that his boots are simply standard, off-the-rack Lucchese boots and denied the presence of lifts. However, three shoemakers interviewed by Politico disagreed, pointing out various indicators that suggest the boots may indeed have lifts.[0] These indicators include an unusually high wrinkle in the boot, stretched leather, a curled toe, and the ball of the foot appearing too far back.[0]
Zephan Parker, a bootmaker from Houston, claimed to have helped politicians with lifts in their footwear and stated that DeSantis is wearing lifts without a doubt.[0] Other experts also agreed that the shaved heels, wide shafts, and placement of the balls of DeSantis’ feet are giveaway signs of lifts.
Despite the mounting evidence, DeSantis steadfastly denied the claims and even declined to try on a pair of Ferragamo shoes offered by Bet-David to prove his height. He cited his inability to accept gifts as the reason for declining. The conversation about his footwear continued, with Bet-David criticizing DeSantis’ marketing team and expressing his disappointment with the governor’s recent book.
DeSantis’ press secretary, Bryan Griffin, responded to the claims, denying any boot padding and suggesting that Politico Magazine’s coverage of the issue was a “hit piece.” The outlet refused to provide compensation to any bootmakers.[0] While the controversy surrounding DeSantis’ boots continues to swirl, it is clear that the debate over his footwear choice has gained significant attention and speculation.
Regardless of whether or not DeSantis is wearing lifts in his boots, the controversy has shed light on the ill-fitting nature of the boots themselves. Experts in the industry have pointed out that the boots are too wide around the calves, the heels are low, and the toes turn up abnormally high.[0] These factors create an overall strange and clown-like effect, regardless of the presence of lifts.
In conclusion, the speculation surrounding Governor Ron DeSantis’ choice of footwear has sparked a heated debate. While DeSantis denies wearing lifts in his boots, experts in the shoemaking industry have pointed out indicators that suggest otherwise. The controversy has also highlighted the poor fit of the boots themselves. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether DeSantis will address the issue further or if it will simply fade away as a passing moment of scrutiny.
0. “Ron DeSantis says he’s 5’11” and is not wearing hidden heels” Florida Politics, 30 Oct. 2023, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/641990-ron-desantis-says-hes-511-and-is-not-wearing-hidden-heels/
