As many on this thread have informed, those are typical boots worn around watery, messy places or by people who work on the water in that part of the country. The Governor was touring hurricane damage.
If people laugh at it, it’s because they’re ignorant of what the working people wear down there.
I have never seen white boots work by workers in messy places. Most are black, brown or green. White?
I think this is much about nothing, though.