Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email

       Please enter a valid email address

       Please enter a valid email address

       SIGN UP

       I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

       Thanks for signing up to the

       Inside Washington email

       {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

       First there were Ron DeSantis’ alleged heeled boots, now there are Donald Trump’s “toe pads.”

       Social media has not taken kindly to the discovery of the two black rectangular pads spotted under the former president’s feet while he was speaking at Mar-a-Lago.

       “What is Trump standing on here? How often does he use these?” one account asked in an X post, which included a photo of Mr Trump’s shiny black shoes leaning on the pads.

       One user joked, “trump toe pads, desantis’ heels - does the Republican Party have a foot fetish?”

       “Counter balances the 3-inch lifts in his shoes since he can no longer hold his own weight,” someone commented.

       Another brutally remarked, “Trump needs toe pads to stand up without falling over. What an aLpHa MaLe!”

       Yet another wrote, “me leveling my uneven furniture.”

       Others posted photos of him leaning forward at press conferences, and is now using toe pads to prevent leaning too far.

       One wrote, “He now uses foot pads to prevent himself from tipping over. If Joe Biden did this, Fox News would talk about nothing else.”

       Others still speculated that his forward lean could be an indicator of health issues.

       “That forward lean is an indicator of Frontotemporal Dementia. Some have thought he was in early stages when he ran in 2016. MAGA candidates relax: it progresses slowly,” a user postulated.

       Other users suggested the same diagnosis with photos of the 2024 frontrunner and a list of symptoms, including “poor judgment,” “socially inappropriate behavior,” “loss of empathy” and “problems with balance.”

       Another account posted another list of symptoms for Frontotemporal Dementia — but incorporated another rumour circulating about Mr Trump: “a decline in personal hygiene.”

       Adam Kinzinger, former Illinois Republican congressman, warned earlier this week that Mr Trump has a nasty odour. “It’s truly something to behold. Wear a mask if you can,” he said.

       Earlier this year, comedian Kathy Griffin also remarked on his scent: “Donald has a distinct smell that doesn’t get enough press.”

       More about Donald Trump Ron DeSantis Feet US election 2024

       Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

       1Comments

       1/ 1Trump’s ‘toe pads’ spark social media firestorm

       Trump’s ‘toe pads’ spark social media firestorm

       Donald Trump’s toe pads

       Patriot Takes / screengrab

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in