US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wears Maduro's Nike tracksuit for China trip

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wore a Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit on his trip to China.

The outfit was made famous by Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who was photographed wearing the outfit during his U.S.-orchestrated capture on Jan. 3, 2026.

In a post on X by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, Rubio was photographed wearing the outfit hands in pocket on board Air Force One.

“Secretary Rubio rocking the Nike Tech ‘Venezuela’ on Air Force One!” The caption read, accompanied by a laughing-crying emoji.

Trip to China

Rubio was apparently travelling with U.S. president Donald Trump to China, Fox News reported.

The trip is expected to focus on trade and national security issues.

This is Rubio’s first time visiting China, AFP reported.

Reactions

Rubio’s outfit shocked many on social media.

Commenters said the outfit was unusually casual for a diplomatic trip.

The post also drew memes of Rubio.

However, the image not only spread on Western media, but on Chinese social media too.

Chinese online users on Weibo were of the opinion that Rubio’s choice of outfit was intended to incite hostility, as Maduro was wearing the same apparel when he was captured, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

Chinese online users also accused Rubio of mocking the sanctions against him.

Sanctioned in China

As a U.S. senator, Rubio was outspoken about China’s alleged violation of human rights.

He played a key role in imposing sanctions on China over the alleged use of forced labour by the mostly Muslim Uyghur minority and also criticised China’s clampdown on Hong Kong.

As a result, he was banned from entering China.

However, Chinese officials apparently found a diplomatic workaround to let Rubio into the country after he was appointed Secretary of State and National Security Advisor by Trump.

Shortly before Rubio took office in January 2025, the Chinese government and official media began transliterating the first syllable of his surname with a different Chinese character for "lu".

It was believed that the change was a workaround for the sanctions, as Rubio would have been banned from entering if he were to use his previous name.