ICYMI: Tran Flexes Goofy Nike Sneakers, Triggers Ethics Complaint

In case you missed it, wannabe influencer Democrat Derek Tran got caught turning his congressional office into a personal sneaker ad, flexing custom Nike kicks instead of following the rules and triggering an ethics complaint in the process. It’s the latest reminder that out of touch Tran is more focused on clout and branding than doing his job.

“Unethical Derek Tran is turning his congressional office into a personal branding studio. While Southern Californians worry about rising costs and public safety, out of touch Tran is busy flexing custom Nikes, chasing clout, and racking up ethics complaints instead of doing his job.” – NRCC Spokesman Christian Martinez

Read more here or see excerpts below: 

Goofy Nike Air sneakers land SoCal Democrat in hot water 
The New York Post
By Ross O’Keefe
Published Feb. 6, 2026

One California House Democrat’s goofy sneakers made a watchdog kickin’ mad.

An ethics complaint was filed Wednesday against Southern California Rep. Derek Tran (D-Calif.) after he showed off his custom Jordan-style kicks in a fundraising email.

One problem: his shoes feature the seal of the House of Representatives on the heel, an apparent violation of House Ethics guidelines, among other concerns.

[…]

“I wear a suit a tie to work in Congress, but rocking my Airforce 1s around Capitol Hill and back home has become my calling card,” he bragged in the email about his blue-and-yellow kicks. He captioned a photo of them with, “Custom. Members Only.”

[…]

“The law is quite clear: Members cannot use official government resources, and particularly the official House Seal, for anything other than official government business,” they wrote to the chief counsel at the Office of Congressional Conduct.

“Under the criminal code, reproducing the House Seal on shoes for personal or political purposes is not
permitted, and using it for political fundraising purposes is absolutely forbidden. There is no
doubt what occurred here. The law is plainly written and there is no excuse for violating it,” they added.

The organization’s executive director, Kendra Arnold, told The Post in a statement that an “immediate investigation” is warranted.

[…]

The Post reached out to Tran’s office for comment, but did not receive a response.