Vice President JD Vance is shedding new light on President Donald Trump’s expectations for members of his administration, revealing a strict and decidedly old-school approach to professional appearance that extends all the way down to the color of a Cabinet member’s shoes.

Speaking on the “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast, Vance said Trump believes public officials have a responsibility to show respect for the offices they hold, and that dressing appropriately is part of that obligation.

“The president has a certain sense that you ought to respect the place, you ought to respect the institution, respect the office. And one of the ways you do that is by dressing like a normal person,” Vance said in the episode released Thursday. “And I think that’s — it’s a very old-fashioned thing.”

According to Vance, Trump places a high value on professionalism and expects those around him to reflect that standard in their appearance. He contrasted the president’s preferences with what he sees as the more casual style adopted by many contemporary politicians.

Describing Trump’s own wardrobe formula, Vance said the president rarely strays from a familiar look.

“Well, I mean, he always has — it’s always a navy suit. It’s almost always a solid tie. It’s always black shoes,” Vance said. “Like, he’ll bust the chops of some of the Cabinet members if they’ve got brown shoes on.”

Trump’s attention to footwear apparently goes beyond criticism. Earlier this year, the president revealed that he has occasionally purchased shoes for administration officials.

“When they tell me they have a problem, I say, ‘Let me get you a pair of shoes,'” Trump told Kilmeade in March.

Vance said the president frequently notices and comments on the attire of people around him, including foreign leaders and even members of his own family.

Among the examples he cited was the now-famous “Zelensky moment,” when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faced questions during an Oval Office meeting about why he was not wearing a suit.

Months later, when Zelenskyy appeared at a White House meeting dressed more formally than usual, one reporter complimented his appearance.

A reporter told Zelenskyy he looked “fabulous in that suit,” before Trump added, “I said the same thing.”

Reflecting on the earlier controversy, Vance suggested the incident had not gone particularly well for the Ukrainian leader.

“That was not a good moment for him,” Vance said of Zelenskyy, referring to the tense exchange between the Ukrainian president and U.S. officials. “And it’s funny because things kind of worked out. I think, you know, we were able to repair that relationship.”

Vance also recalled a lighter moment involving Donald Trump Jr. during a September 11 memorial event while on the 2024 campaign trail.

“They’re reading out the names. But there’s — at one point, the president turns around and looks at Don Jr. And Don has like, a spread collar on. And the president’s like, ‘Oh, that’s a pretty wide collar there, Don,’” Vance said.

The vice president said the comment was clearly intended as a playful jab and illustrated how closely Trump pays attention to appearance.

“And you can tell, like, it just was absolutely a dig. So I’ve always — navy suit, black shoes and a conventional collar,” he added.

Taken together, Vance’s stories paint a picture of a White House where traditional dress standards remain firmly in place and where even the smallest fashion choices may not escape the president’s notice.

{Matzav.com}