A gray Nike tracksuit worn by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during his arrival in U.S. custody briefly became an unlikely online sensation over the weekend, selling out within hours after images of him circulated widely on social media.
The outfit — a Nike Tech Fleece jacket and matching joggers retailing at about $140, drew attention after U.S. President Donald Trump shared a photograph on Truth Social showing Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima en route to New York after his controversial arrest by US Delta Forces in Caracas. The image, posted Saturday, quickly spread across platforms, spawning memes, parody “fit checks,” and resale listings, while several retailers reported the items going out of stock.
The reaction underscored how quickly political moments can be absorbed into internet culture, where even scenes tied to arrests and prosecutions can be reframed as viral spectacle. Fashion commentary, jokes and edited images of Maduro in the tracksuit circulated widely, turning what was meant to be a routine transfer photo into an unexpected consumer trend.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were indicted on drug trafficking and weapons-related charges, according to U.S. authorities. On Monday, the couple was transferred from a New York detention facility to federal court, where their initial appearances were expected to be brief and procedural.
Nike has not commented on the sudden spike in attention surrounding the tracksuit, and there is no indication the company had any involvement in or prior knowledge of the images’ release. By late Sunday, the product pages for the jacket and joggers showed limited or no availability in several markets.