US Secretary of State Marco Rubio drew attention on social media with the grey Nike tracksuit he wore during his visit to China with President Donald Trump.
The outfit’s design prompted online discussion after claims that it resembled the Nike Tech Fleece model associated in posts with Venezuela’s ousted leader, Nicolás Maduro, who was detained following a US operation earlier this year.
Attention increased after White House Communications Director Steven Cheung shared a photo of Rubio with the caption “Rubio on Air Force One wearing Nike Tech ‘Venezuela’”.
The post led to further speculation over whether the clothing choice carried a symbolic message.
Rubio denied the claims in a statement to NBC News. He said he had not intended to send any message to Maduro and that he wore the tracksuit because he found it comfortable.
Rubio also responded to the discussion with a brief remark, saying, “Actually, he copied me because I’d already done that before him. I don’t know when he did it.”
He added that he was unaware his photograph had been taken and said no specific message was intended.
