Vance Recounts Oval Office Exchange After Trump Joked About Shoe Sizes

Vice President JD Vance delivered a rare peek behind the scenes of the Trump White House this week, sharing a lighthearted Oval Office moment involving President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and—unexpectedly—shoe fashion.

Speaking at an event honoring actor Sylvester Stallone, Vance said people often ask him what it’s like serving as vice president. While much of the job is exactly what Americans expect, he added, there are unforgettable moments that never make the headlines.

“So, for example, today, I’m in the Oval Office with the President of the United States and our great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio,” Vance recalled. “And we’re talking about something really, really important.” But in classic Trump fashion, the president paused the policy discussion and redirected everyone’s attention.

“And the President kind of holds up his hand and says, No, no, hold on a second. There’s something much more important. ‘Shoes.’”

Vance said Trump leaned over the Resolute Desk, examined both him and Rubio, and delivered a trademark blunt assessment: “Marco, JD, you guys have s****y shoes.” The room erupted in laughter.

According to Vance, Trump then pulled out a full shoe catalog and began flipping through it with them. “He’s actually asking our size in the middle of this conversation,” Vance said. “He’s asking for our size so that he can make sure that we get the right shoes.”

Vance revealed that another unnamed lawmaker was in the room as well. Trump asked Rubio for his shoe size—“Marco is apparently an 11.5”—then asked Vance, who said, “My shoe size is 13.” When Trump asked the unidentified politician for his size, “He says seven,” Vance recounted.

The vice president said Trump leaned back and delivered another punchline: “You know, you can tell a lot about a man by his shoe size,” drawing more laughter and applause.

Standing next to his wife, Usha, Vance concluded the story by quipping, “We won’t ask the Second Lady for comment on that particular topic.”

Earlier in the week, the vice president and his wife spent the day before Thanksgiving serving meals to soldiers at Fort Campbell, CBS News reported. Vance, a Marine veteran, also addressed the service members during the visit. Fort Campbell spans the Kentucky–Tennessee border and houses more than 30,000 active duty personnel, according to its official website, Off The Press noted.

The visit marked Vance’s second trip to Tennessee in recent weeks. He previously took part in a Republican National Committee fundraiser outside Maryville on Nov. 14.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a major GOP-backed challenge to federal campaign finance limits—one that directly involves Vance. The case contests a provision restricting how much political parties may spend in coordination with candidates. The lawsuit was filed during Vance’s 2022 Senate run in Ohio.

Vance and two Republican committees appealed after a lower court upheld the spending caps, arguing the restrictions violate the First Amendment by limiting party activity that directly reflects candidate input. The case plays out against the backdrop of the Court’s landmark 2010 Citizens United v. FEC ruling, which struck down limits on independent expenditures by outside groups as unconstitutional restrictions on political speech.

With campaign finance, redistricting, and election law battles intensifying nationwide, the outcome could shape how parties support candidates heading into the 2026 midterms—and beyond.