Florida Governor and Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis is facing a new challenge: his boots. The internet is buzzing with speculation that DeSantis is wearing lifts inside his cowboy boots to make himself appear taller. But DeSantis denies the rumor and refuses to take off his boots to prove it.
The controversy started when some online users noticed the odd fit and shape of DeSantis’s boots in recent videos and photos. They pointed out that his boots looked “bulbous”, “clunky” and “ill-fitting”, and that he seemed to have difficulty walking in them. Some even zoomed in on the images and claimed to see the outline of the lifts inside the boots.
One of the users who sparked the discussion was Allan Edmonds, a top shoemaker who has made custom shoes for presidents and celebrities. He posted a video on Twitter, analyzing DeSantis’s boots and concluding that he was wearing lifts. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s wearing lifts. It’s obvious from the way he walks and the way his boots look,” Edmonds said.
DeSantis, however, dismissed the accusation as “ridiculous” and insisted that he did not wear lifts. In an interview with conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro, he said, “I don’t wear lifts. … It’s ridiculous. … I mean, come on. I’m above average height for an American.” According to his official biography, DeSantis is 6 feet 1 inch tall, but some sources claim he is shorter than that.
When Shapiro challenged him to take off his boots or try on a pair of flat shoes, DeSantis declined. He said he liked his boots and that they were comfortable. He also joked that he would not let Shapiro measure his height.
Some commentators have criticized DeSantis for being insecure about his height and trying to hide it. Alex Shephard, a staff writer at The New Republic, wrote, “He could have just owned his height, whatever it is, and projected confidence. Instead, he’s chosen to project insecurity—and look like a clown in the process.” Molly Jong-Fast, a columnist at The Daily Beast and a co-host of The New Abnormal podcast, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Maybe he just likes the way they make him feel. Maybe he likes the way they make him look. Maybe he likes the way they make him sound when he walks into a room.”
Others have suggested that DeSantis is trying to emulate former President Donald Trump, who is known for wearing long ties and oversized suits to create an illusion of height. Trump is also rumored to wear lifts in his shoes, although he has never confirmed or denied it. Trump has endorsed DeSantis for president in 2024 and praised him as a “great leader”.
However, not everyone is convinced by the lift theory. Some of DeSantis’s supporters have defended him and accused his critics of being petty and jealous. They have argued that DeSantis’s boots are a part of his style and personality, and that his height does not matter for his political performance. They have also pointed out that there are other prominent politicians who are shorter than DeSantis, such as former President Barack Obama and Senator Marco Rubio.
DeSantis has not addressed the issue further since his interview with Shapiro. He has continued to wear his boots in public appearances and events. Whether or not he wears lifts remains a mystery, but one thing is clear: his boots have become a topic of national interest.
Relevant articles:
– Ron DeSantis Can’t “Shoe” Away Latest Humiliating Revelation, The New Republic, October 31, 2023
– Ron DeSantis Addresses Rumors That He Wears Lifts in His Boots, Newsweek, October 30, 2023
– Is Ron DeSantis Wearing Height-Boosting Cowboy Boots In Viral Videos? Top Shoemaker Says ‘There’s No Doubt’, MSN, November 1, 2023
– Ron DeSantis Swears He Doesn’t Wear Lifts, Vanity Fair, October 31, 2023