'Foot fetish' or health issue: Why the internet is obsessing over Donald Trump's 'toe pads'

It is an unlucky December for former US president Donald Trump. From denying reading Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf to rumours about his scent, he has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons. This time, though, social media was abuzz with interest when he was seen using unusual “toe pads,” while speaking to the crowd at a Mar-a-Lago event. Although the purpose of his usage is yet unknown, many have attempted to interpret his new item through online conversations. Let’s take a closer look. Numerous speculations In the images going viral on social media, Trump can be seen using two black rectangular pads under his feet while speaking at Mar-a-Lago. A user asked in an X post, “What is Trump standing on here? How often does he use these?” Another one joked, “Trump toe pads, (Ron) DeSantis’ heels – does the Republican Party have a foot fetish?”

“Toe lifts to help him not have old man posture,” quipped a third one, while one commented, “Trump needs toe pads to stand up without falling over. What an aLpHa MaLe!” A netizen joked, “Me levelling my uneven furniture.” Several others shared his snaps leaning forward at a few press conferences and declared that he is now using toe pads to prevent himself from leaning too far.

One user chipped in, “He now uses foot pads to prevent himself from tipping over. If Joe Biden did this, Fox News would talk about nothing else.” Could this be an indicator of health issues? Yes. It is possible. A user speculated, “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.”

According to UK-based National Health Service, it is an uncommon type of dementia that affects the front and sides of the brain. It causes problems with personality, behaviour, mental abilities, memory and language. There may also be physical problems, such as slow or stiff movements, loss of bladder or bowel control (usually not until later on), muscle weakness, or difficulty swallowing. These problems can make daily activities increasingly difficult, and the person may eventually be unable to look after themselves. A few others also suggested the same diagnosis with some of them listing its symptoms like “poor judgement," “socially inappropriate behaviour,” “loss of empathy,” and “problems with balance.” One of the users also pointed out the allegations about his “decline in personal hygiene.” Trump’s nasty odour Claims around the former president’s alleged odour erupted earlier this week when former Illinois Republican representative Adam Kinzinger tweeted, “I’m genuinely surprised how people close to Trump haven’t talked about the odour. It’s truly something to behold. Wear a mask if you can.” The anti-Trump PAC Lincoln Project doubled down on the allegations and released a nasty ad with the title, “Is that you Donald? #TrumpSmells.” The commercial opens with images of rubbish, manure, and dumps, all surrounded by flies. A chorus of coughs, sniffles, and vomiting breaks up the pictures. The next scene in the film shows trash being collected and stacked on New York City streets. A reporter’s voice then boomerang in, showcasing the Fifth Avenue front of Trump Tower, saying, “Claiming the former president smells bad.” Someone can be heard sniffing and then remarking, “Ew, Donald. Is that you?” while displaying more foul-smelling goods, such as mouldy cheese. The cheese in the advertisement, “Limburger,” is well-known for its strong smell. Comedian Kathy Griffin also remarked earlier, “The Donald has a distinct smell. It’s like body odour with a scented makeup product.” Social media has been flooded with rumours about the claim, with the hashtag #TrumpSmellsBad becoming popular. In response to Kinzinger’s comments about the former president earlier in the week, a Trump spokesperson told The Independent, “Adam Kinzinger farted on live TV and is an unemployed fraud. He has disgraced his country and disrespects everyone around him because he is a sad individual who is mad about how his miserable life has turned out.”