Donald Trump’s Florsheim gift-giving tradition hits a snag as the shoe brand slap him with a lawsuit

Florsheim, one of President Donald Trump‘s reportedly favorite shoe brands, is now at the center of a legal battle against his own administration. Weyco Group Inc., the parent company of Florsheim Shoe Company, filed a lawsuit in December challenging the tariffs imposed during Trump’s second term. The company is seeking refunds for what it claims are unlawfully collected duties.

Reports have long highlighted Trump’s fondness for Florsheim shoes, with claims that he has gifted them to cabinet members and political allies over the years. This makes the legal conflict between the brand and his administration particularly notable.

Weyco Group Inc. filed its complaint in the U.S. Court of International Trade on December 1, 2025. According to Newsweek, the company argues that Trump overstepped his authority by imposing broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), without proper notice, public comment, or congressional approval.

The Florsheim lawsuit is part of a growing wave of legal challenges against Trump’s tariff policy

The lawsuit does not just challenge the process, it also challenges the very basis of the tariffs. Weyco argues that Congress never gave such wide-ranging authority under IEEPA, making these tariffs an unlawful use of executive power. The company also contends that even if IEEPA did allow such authority, the administration failed to meet the law’s requirement of proving an “unusual and extraordinary threat.”

Trump’s administration has faced scrutiny on multiple fronts, with a former Secretary of State accusing Trump of folding under Israeli pressure that Obama reportedly resisted.

Weyco specifically argues that trade deficits do not qualify as an emergency under the law. Weyco is asking the court to declare these actions unlawful and to order an immediate refund of all duties collected, with interest. 

The lawsuit names several defendants, including the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, and President Trump in his official capacity.

The Weyco case is part of a broader wave of legal challenges from importers seeking to recover tariffs, especially after recent Supreme Court rulings have begun to limit how IEEPA can be used for trade measures. A coalition of two dozen states also filed a separate lawsuit earlier this month to block newly announced global tariffs.

Right now, the case is on hold. Court records show it has been stayed while courts await further guidance from ongoing Supreme Court litigation related to IEEPA-based tariffs. Trump’s family has also been in the spotlight recently, with Trump’s granddaughter trying comedy at California’s priciest grocery store drawing a sharp reaction online.

If the stay is lifted and the court sides with Weyco, the company is seeking a declaration that the tariffs were unlawful, along with a monetary judgment to refund the duties paid, plus interest.