Does Ron DeSantis Wear Lifts in His Boots? What To Know

Ron DeSantis continues to be stepped on over claims that he wears heel lifts to make him look taller, a persistent rumor that the Florida governor has denied.

The story has followed DeSantis throughout his campaign to become the GOP candidate in the 2024 presidential race, with former President Donald Trump recently posting a video in which a dubbed-over DeSantis says: "You know what? My wife bought me those lifts and I happen to like them."

DeSantis has worn a pair of cowboy heels throughout his campaign. But in the past few months, social media has been awash with theories that he wears additional lifts within these boots.

DeSantis addressed the claims on October 30 on Patrick Bet-David's PBD Podcast.

After being shown pictures highlighting the shape of his feet and the corresponding space where some believe lifts have been added, the host asked if DeSantis wore lifts. "No, no," he replied. "Those are just standard, off-the-rack Lucchese boots."

Speculation has continued among critics, including Trump using it as an attack line.

In a Truth Social post on December 1, Trump posted an edited version of DeSantis' recent debate on Fox News with California Governor Gavin Newsom.

In the clip, moderator Sean Hannity appears to ask DeSantis "Are you a sure insecure little man that likes to wear lifts inside your cowboy boots?" to which DeSantis replies "You know what? My wife bought me those lifts and I happen to like them, OK?"

An edit of Newsom also chimes in, saying: "He's even using a stepping stool. I can see it from over here." Trump wrote alongside the video: "BATTLE OF LOSERVILLE."

DeSantis has been wearing cowboy boots with short heels for some time, predating the claims about boosters inside his shoes.

In March, Slate reported extensively on the story behind his boots, noting how DeSantis had been pictured standing eye-to-eye with 6'1'' golf star Tiger Woods, a picture that led to a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, from Democratic Party-affiliated researchers, pointing out how he "consistently" wore boots to appear taller.

Slate also pointed out that while there are other types of cowboy boots with lower heels, DeSantis picks a slanted one which makes him look taller.

In early October, the heel lift theory began to gain popularity.

Viral videos on TikTok and posts on X, formerly Twitter, have highlighted how the shape of Ron DeSantis' boots, and the position of his feet within them, suggested he was wearing boosters.

In late October, Politico published interviews with three shoemakers who all said that DeSantis was "probably wearing height boosters."

Zephan Parker, a Houston bootmaker, told the news outlet that judging by a photo taken at a campaign event in Tampa, Florida, his cowboy heels appeared to be shorter than typical Western boots which would not accommodate a booster.

Indeed, a typical Western boot coupled with a booster, he said, would be like wearing "5-inch stilettos."

"That's too much for the common man," Parker said. "So on a ready-made boot, they'll cut down the heel about half an inch to accommodate the lifts, which looks to be what happened here."

The article also went into even further detail, for instance assessing the creases along the boot.

How Tall Is Ron DeSantis?

Reports about Ron DeSantis' height have varied widely. A November 2023 article by the Palm Beach Post, said estimates varied "anywhere from 5-foot 8 to 5-foot-11", the latter of which DeSantis said was his height during an appearance in October on the PBD Podcast.

A 2022 report published by Statista found that the average height of U.S. presidents was approximately 180cm, or 5'11'' approximately two inches taller than the average U.S. male in 2020.

A 2016 article by The Washington Post, based on data from Wikipedia, also found that presidential winners were typically taller than their challengers.

Newsweek has contacted a representative for DeSantis via email for comment.

According to poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight, DeSantis currently sits 46 points behind Donald Trump, while South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has been closing the gap between herself and the Florida governor in recent weeks.

On Wednesday, DeSantis debated alongside Nikki Haley, ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, responding to challenges about his polling numbers. He said he was the only candidate on stage "willing to stand up and fight back against what the left is doing to this country."