'You’re so bad at this!' John Oliver pokes fun at Ron DeSantis’ weird comeback to boots controversy
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In a segment on Sunday's 'Last Week Tonight', John Oliver delved into the ongoing debate surrounding Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the alleged use of height-enhancing boots, shedding light on the quirkiness of the situation and the involvement of former President Donald Trump.
Trump had previously ignited the controversy by sharing photos of DeSantis with the caption, "Tell me he's not wearing hidden heels." However, DeSantis responded with a less-than-stellar comeback, stating, "I'll tell you this: If Donald Trump can summon the balls to show up to the debate, I'll wear a boot on my head. This is a time for substance."
John Oliver's take
Oliver couldn't help but comment on this reply, remarking, "You can't claim it's a time for substance just after promising to wear a boot on your head."
“You’re so bad at this!” Oliver continued, addressing DeSantis directly. “Even if you weren’t running against one of the world’s greatest bullies, it looks so pathetic that you thought that was a good comeback. Never before has a politician had such kid-with-a-rolling-backpack-wearing-a-tie-to-class energy.”
The issue of DeSantis' unusual footwear choices had been a topic of discussion online for some time, and it came to a head when podcast host Patrick Bet-David confronted the governor about rumors of him using lifts inside his boots to appear taller. DeSantis firmly denied these claims, stating that he is 5-foot-11 and wears off-the-rack Lucchese boots.
However, this denial did little to quell the story, leading DeSantis to make another attempt to address the "bootgate" controversy. He made a somewhat awkward comment on Newsmax's 'Eric Bolling the Balance', saying, "This is no time for foot fetishes. We've got serious problems as a country."
Unfortunately for DeSantis, this quip didn't land well, and his delivery was hindered by his use of AirPods instead of a proper microphone.
Shifting focus to Trump
DeSantis then tried to shift the focus of the controversy onto Trump, although it wasn't clear that the former President was directly responsible for the height-related rumors.
DeSantis stated, "I know Donald Trump and a lot of his people have been focusing on things like footwear. I'll tell you this. If Donald Trump can summon the balls to show up to the debate, I'll wear a boot on my head."
WATCH — DeSantis questions whether Trump can “summon the balls” to show up and debate; laughs off Team Trump’s weird interest in men’s feet.
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) November 3, 2023
"This is no time for foot fetishes. We've got serious problems as a country.” pic.twitter.com/KTI4tSHctr
It's worth noting that former President Trump and his associates actively contributed to the spread of the high-heel rumor concerning DeSantis.
The former president not only entertained the idea by jokingly considering the nickname "Tiny D" for DeSantis but also shared screenshots from a TikTok video made by a DeSantis boot conspiracy theorist on his social media platform, Truth Social. Additionally, Trump's team celebrated the story's viral spread, dubbing it the "KISS OF DEATH" for DeSantis' campaign.
The height-related rumors gained traction due to a podcast confrontation and a Politico article titled "Three Expert Shoemakers Say Ron DeSantis Is Probably Wearing Height Boosters."
DeSantis' offer to Trump was rather strange, considering phrases like "I'll eat my hat" are common, but "I'll wear a boot on my head" is unheard of. Prior to DeSantis' remark, the phrase was more associated with Vermin Supreme, a "perennial presidential candidate" known for wearing a boot on his head and promising Americans free ponies, per New York Magazine.