White House Mocks Maduro With Rubio Photo in 'Nike Tech Venezuela'

A photo of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio aboard Air Force One, wearing a Nike tracksuit, was posted Wednesday by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung in a pointed jab at former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The outfit Rubio wore is an exact replica of the one Maduro had on when he was captured in a lightning military operation months earlier. Cheung captioned the image: "Secretary of State Rubio wearing (Nike Tech Venezuela) aboard Air Force One."

The phrase "Nike Tech Venezuela" references a global social media phenomenon that took off in early 2026, after images circulated of Maduro in a gray Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit during his apprehension by U.S. forces.

On January 3 of this year, U.S. special forces arrested Maduro in a military raid in Caracas. He was subsequently transferred to the United States to face legal proceedings.