Secretary of State Marco Rubio came to Capitol Hill Wednesday to testify about the Iran war. Democrats only wanted to talk about his feet.
Yes, really.
Rubio appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee for what was supposed to be a hearing on the U.S. military’s conflict with Iran, nuclear negotiations, and American military operations.
What he got instead from Democratic lawmakers were questions about whether his shoes fit.
“Mr. Secretary, it seems like you have an issue admitting facts,” Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-C.A., told Rubio. “You can’t say that the president lost the 2020 election, just like you won’t admit that Trump is losing this reckless war of choice, and just like you couldn’t admit that the shoes the president bought you were too big.”
Rubio couldn’t believe what Jacobs was saying and turned to Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee.
“I don’t know about the shoes,” he said. “I mean, [Trump] gave me some Florsheim shoes that are actually pretty good. They fit fine. I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Your shoes look very nice today, Mr. Secretary,” Jacobs said.
Rubio had had enough.
“How can you see them? They’re way down here,” he said. “We’re talking about shoes. Are you guys kidding me? I mean, is this the Foreign Affairs Committee or is this, like, a circus? What is this?”
After Democrats repeatedly cut off his answers through the hearing, Rubio snapped.
“What kind of thing is this? What is this? You know, you get asked questions for five minutes and you don’t get time to answer. It’s not a hearing. Is this a dunk tank? What is this?”
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Trump has developed a fondness for Florsheim oxford shoes and has taken to gifting pairs to cabinet members and senior staffers, including Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. But rather than asking recipients their shoe size, Trump prefers to guess. He then has the shoes sent to the White House a week later.
White House officials told the Journal that Trump regularly asks recipients how they’re enjoying the “incredible” footwear, and that “everybody’s afraid not to wear them.” A photo taken in January of Rubio on social media appeared to show his shoes being too large, and has circulated liberal circles.
Fox News senior foreign policy correspondent Gillian Turner blasted Wednesday’s proceedings a political stunt and proof of the Democrats’ strategy to use hearings as social media content for their base rather than as genuine oversight.
Rubio departed with his shoes, and whatever dignity remained after two hours of Democratic absurdity, intact.