Rubio wears Nike Tracksuit on Air Force One, Internet loses it Over Maduro Comparisons
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has set social media alight after being spotted in a Nike Tech tracksuit aboard Air Force One while travelling to China with President Donald Trump — the same style of outfit Nicolas Maduro was wearing when US forces captured the ousted Venezuelan president earlier this year.
White House communications director Steven Cheung posted on X: “Secretary Rubio rocking the Nike Tech ‘Venezuela’ on Air Force One!” Sports journalist Eric Daugherty also wrote on X: “LMFAO! Sec. Marco Rubio was just spotted wearing the Nicolas Maduro ‘Nike Tech’ aboard Air Force One, en route to China with President Trump. Just like Maduro wore when 47 captured him. We love Marco.” The White House itself shared the photos with the caption: “Full circle moment.”
The comparison traces back to images President Trump shared in early January showing Maduro handcuffed and blindfolded in a grey Nike Tech tracksuit after a weekend raid in which the ousted Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by US forces and flown to the United States. Posts circulating online at the time claimed Maduro wore a size 3XL. Other items he was seen with including a low-cost sleep mask and noise-cancelling ear protectors also drew attention online. Reports suggested the tracksuit sold out following the viral coverage.
How the internet reacted
Reactions to Rubio’s outfit were split. One user wrote: “He should be the next POTUS sorry JD but it’s Marco’s time. I do think JD would be a great Secretary of State for Rubio and I would like to see Tulsi or Sean Duffy as Rubio’s VP next go around.”
Another wrote: “Rubio has become the MAN that can do and be anyone at anytime!!”
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Not everyone was amused. One user said: “More attention seeking from adult men in politics. Unprofessional. Larping like he’s Trump without having half the ability to pull off the real thing. He’s always riding someone else’s wave just like back in the Tea Party days. He’s not our guy in 28′.”
A fourth user added a legal footnote: “Nike actually sued Maduro in 2019 for counterfeiting and settled for $40 million so Rubio is literally wearing stolen intellectual property on a government plane.”