A high-profile White House dinner on Nov. 19 — attended by President Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and top industry leaders — was expected to spark political headlines. Instead, it was Elon Musk’s unexpected footwear choice that took over the internet.

A viral photo showed the billionaire CEO standing among black-tie guests, all wearing polished formal shoes. Musk, however, appeared in oversized gray sneakers, instantly drawing attention. Within hours, social media exploded with jokes and memes, especially on X, the very platform he bought for $44 billion.

Users had a field day, calling the sneakers “the Cybertruck of footwear” and claiming he must have “borrowed Bigfoot’s shoes.” Another quipped that wearing shoes too large was “the male version of padding your bra.”

As the photo spread, some questioned whether it was digitally edited — until additional images from the event confirmed the shoes were indeed real and just as massive from other angles.

This isn’t Musk’s first viral sneaker moment. Earlier in 2024, he wore a similar bulky pair during The Don Lemon Show, with fans noticing what appeared to be a SpaceX logo. That detail resurfaced online, fueling theories that these shoes may be another prototype from one of his companies.

The timing made the moment even bigger. Musk’s return to the White House after public tensions with Trump could have dominated headlines with policy discussions or future collaborations. Instead, his shoes stole the show — a reminder of how quickly the internet locks onto even the smallest detail.

Whether they were a test design, a quiet flex, or simply a quirky choice remains unknown. But one thing is clear: when Elon Musk walks into a room, even his shoes make news.