United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reacted to the viral social media buzz surrounding a photo of him wearing a grey Nike tracksuit during a recent trip to China with President Donald Trump.
The image quickly gained attention online because the outfit closely resembled the Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit worn by Venezuela’s former leader Nicolas Maduro during his dramatic arrest earlier this year. The photo of Maduro in handcuffs aboard a helicopter had previously gone viral, turning the tracksuit into an internet meme.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung fueled the conversation after sharing Rubio’s photo online with the caption that the Secretary of State was “rocking the Nike Tech Venezuela on Air Force One.”
Speaking in an interview with NBC Nightly News from Beijing, Rubio dismissed claims that the outfit carried a hidden political message. According to him, the tracksuit was simply comfortable clothing for the long flight.
Rubio jokingly stated that Maduro may have copied his style instead, saying he owned the outfit before the Venezuelan leader. He also noted that he was unaware anyone was taking pictures at the time.
The viral moment sparked mixed reactions across social media, with users creating memes and comparing both images side by side. Some supporters described it as political trolling, while others viewed it as a harmless fashion coincidence.
Rubio, a longtime critic of leftist governments in Latin America, has remained outspoken against Maduro and previously supported actions aimed at removing him from power. Meanwhile, Maduro and his wife continue to deny allegations of drug trafficking filed by United States prosecutors.
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