Donald Trump’s appearance at last night’s lavish state dinner in London has caused quite a stir online — but not for the reasons one might expect.
The U.S. president, 79, and First Lady Melania Trump, 55, were the guests of honour at the regal banquet hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Tuesday, September 17. The event capped the couple’s first full day in the U.K. as part of Trump’s second state visit.
The pair dined alongside senior royals including Prince William and Kate Middleton. During his speech, Trump praised the Prince of Wales as “really amazing” and described the Princess of Wales, seated next to him at dinner, as “beautiful.” Kate dazzled in a Phillipa Lepley gown paired with the Lover’s Knot Tiara and earrings once worn by Queen Elizabeth II.
Melania, meanwhile, drew mixed reviews for her yellow off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera gown with a contrasting belt and emerald drop earrings. While some applauded the bold look, others criticised it as “inappropriate” for such a formal royal occasion.
But it was the president’s footwear that unexpectedly stole attention. A posed photo of Trump with Melania, the King, and Queen Camilla prompted eagle-eyed viewers to zoom in on his shoes, with many insisting he appeared to be wearing “two different pairs.”
“Is Trump wearing two different shoes?” one user asked on X (formerly Twitter). Another quipped: “Could be. Whose feet turn up like that while standing? And MC Hammer called. He wants his pants back.”
Others suggested his unusual stance could be explained by lifts inside his shoes, an ill fit, or even a leg length discrepancy. “The thicker shoe keeps his leg from dragging,” one commenter speculated.
This is not the first time Trump’s lower legs have sparked debate. Earlier this year, photos from the Club World Cup final raised questions about his visibly swollen ankles. At the time, social media buzzed with theories until White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a circulation issue that can cause swelling.
Whether the state dinner shoes were mismatched or simply an unfortunate optical illusion remains unclear — but once again, Trump’s footwear has walked straight into the spotlight.