The American president-elect has a history of being flexible with the truth, and his crucial statistics are apparently no exception.
Donald Trump, 78, has always claimed to be over six feet tall… but his meeting with Prince William at the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris this weekend suggested there may have been a slight shrinkage.
The incoming US leader and Prince William appeared to have a cordial exchange as they shook hands in the Paris cathedral.
The pair later posed for photos at the British ambassador’s residence in the French capital, with Trump calling the Prince of Wales a “good man.”
On both occasions, William, 42, cut a statuesque figure – the royal is 191cm tall – and Trump couldn’t quite match him on height.
Rumors are swirling that the president-elect, who served his first term in 2017, has relied on “lifters,” insoles that provide extra height, or larger heels to boost his figure.
During his most recent campaign, in which he toppled Kamala Harris, Trump regularly stood next to Elon Musk after the Tesla, Space X and X entrepreneur announced his support for the Republican candidate.
South African Musk is apparently 188cm tall, and yet in photos of his appearances with Trump across America, he appeared significantly taller than the man he was supporting.
The president-elect appeared noticeably shorter than the Prince of Wales at the British Embassy in Paris on Saturday – despite both men claiming to be 6ft tall
Earlier, the president-elect had greeted Prince William at the ceremony marking the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris – again William appeared significantly taller than Trump
Trump with French President Emmanuel Macron, who is 6 feet tall, at the Elysee Palace in Paris yesterday. Right: The French leader with Prince William, who looked considerably taller
And another Trump fan, music star Kid Rock, whose height is recorded at 183cm, appeared to stand shoulder to shoulder with the president-elect as the hat-wearing singer joined the president-elect on stage.
When Trump was subjected to an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July, he appeared preoccupied with his shoes in the immediate aftermath, blood pouring from his ear.
“Let me get my shoes,” Trump, 78, could be heard saying repeatedly as officers held him up moments after he was nearly killed by the AR-15-style rifle bullet.
A video later circulated X, which showed why the expectant president was so worried about his shoes – where some claimed that during the fight an insole had fallen out of his shoe.
Trump – who is said to be one of the longest presidents in history – has also been overshadowed by his son Barron in recent years.
The 18-year-old Trump heir is 6 feet tall and is said to have been nicknamed “Little Donald” by his mother.
Shoulder to shoulder: Emmanuel Macron welcomes newly elected US President Donald Trump for a meeting at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris
One of Trump’s biggest fans, Telsa and Space
Kid Rock, one of Trump’s most famous supporters, is 6 feet tall but appeared to stand at about the same height as his presidential friend on the campaign trail (pictured in New York in December 2023)
Little Donald: The Trumps’ son Barron now towers over his parents – the 18-year-old is 6 feet tall. Pictured in West Palm Beach on November 4
Meanwhile, it seems that Trump was in full swing with his charm offensive in Paris yesterday.
Trump exchanged a warm handshake with William as he entered the foyer of the British Embassy, turned to reporters and said: “Wow, what a nice group.”
In what was the new US president’s first meeting with a member of the royal family since his landslide election victory last month, he praised the prince and joked: “Good man, this one.”
The Prince of Wales asked Trump if he had warmed up, to which the politician replied that he had, noting that the lavish event to mark the reopening of the 861-year-old cathedral “was a beautiful ceremony.”
Prince William was expected to meet Trump half an hour ahead of the glamorous ceremony at Notre Dame last night to discuss the ‘special relationship’ between the US and Britain.
But the travel disruption caused by Storm Darragh, which battered parts of Britain, meant the royal family had to reschedule their meeting with both the former and future president and the current US First Lady. Jill Biden.
Instead of their originally planned private conversation, the First Lady and William would talk on the sidelines of the ceremony, Kensington Palace previously said.
Newly elected US President Donald Trump meets Britain’s Prince William at the residence of the British ambassador in Paris
The Prince of Wales and newly elected US President Donal Trump were all smiles as they met at the British Ambassador’s residence in Paris yesterday
Exchanging another warm handshake with William as he entered the foyer, the US President-elect turned to reporters and said: ‘Wow, what a nice group’
In what was Trump’s first meeting with a member of the royal family since his landslide election victory last month, he praised the prince and joked: “Good man, this one.”
The Prince of Wales and newly elected US President Donald Trump stand side by side in the foyer of the British Ambassador’s residence in Paris
Guests stand as the doors of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral open during a ceremony marking its reopening
After speaking in the building’s foyer on Saturday, Trump and Prince William walked upstairs to begin their conversations.
Trump and William sat on pale yellow couches in the Salon Jaune room, which featured gold patterned wallpaper, a Christmas tree in the corner and a chandelier above.
Before the meeting started, William said, “We can warm our toes after the cathedral,” to which Trump smiled and replied, “Right, you’re right.”
The meeting between the US president-elect and the Prince of Wales concluded last night around 10:20 pm local time, after more than half an hour of talks.
Inside the 861-year-old cathedral – before what was the first opening since its destruction by an inferno in 2019 – the Prince of Wales shared a warm and firm handshake with Trump ahead of their private meeting.
As he greeted the prince at the cathedral, Trump couldn’t resist his famous “grab and jerk” handshake, swooping in with his hand outstretched and grabbing the royal shoulder in what body language experts called a display of power and dominance.
Still, William didn’t seem too concerned about Trump’s display of machismo as they met at the ceremonial reopening and shared a cordial exchange before the Prince was freed from Trump’s grasp.
