Phillips’s Newsletter • 200 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
- A single, odd image of a top official in comically oversized shoes can be deeply unsettling and symbolically damaging.
- It's striking and alarming that someone serving as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser can appear pitiable or unprofessional, which undercuts the seriousness of their office.
- The fact the shoes are cheaply made in China and worn by a wealthy, powerful figure highlights a jarring disconnect between appearance and the dignity expected of high office.