President Donald Trump reacted to the viral image of Secretary of State Marco Rubio wearing a gray Nike Tech fleece tracksuit during the administration’s China trip.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “I thought he looked very good in the sweatsuit. I don’t know if I’d do it, but I thought he looked very good.” He added, “I think he is extraordinary.”
The comments followed a social media post from White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, who shared a photo of Rubio in the outfit with the caption, “Secretary Rubio sporting the Nike Tech ‘Venezuela’ on Air Force One!”
The tracksuit quickly drew comparisons to Nicolás Maduro, who was photographed wearing the same Nike Tech fleece during his January arrest and extradition to New York. The image sparked a meme trend dubbed “Maduromaxxing,” with users joking that Rubio was trolling socialist leaders.
The White House leaned into the meme, posting a side-by-side video of Maduro in custody and Rubio aboard Air Force One with the caption, “Full circle moment.”
Rubio’s response
In an interview with NBC’s Nightly News host Tom Llamas, Rubio denied there was any hidden meaning behind the outfit.
“No, no, no… There’s no context. It’s a nice suit. I mean, I like it. It’s comfortable,” Rubio said.
When pressed on the similarities to Maduro’s outfit, he joked, “Yes, but you know what? He copied me because I had it before he did.”
He added, “There was no message. I didn’t even know they were taking my picture.”
Gavin Newsom reacted
The viral moment also drew reactions outside the White House. Gavin Newsom mocked Rubio’s outfit by referencing Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s earlier plea for airline passengers to show “civility” by not dressing “like they’re going to bed.”
The jab highlighted the contrast between Rubio’s casual attire and the formal expectations of an official diplomatic trip.
The gray Nike Tech tracksuit had already become a cultural talking point before Maduro’s arrest. Nike Tech fleeces reportedly sold out in multiple sizes as online interest surged.
Earlier in 2026, creator Jason Gymafi sparked debate on TikTok by claiming younger men were moving away from the Nike Tech aesthetic in favor of preppy quarter-zips and matcha-latte culture. Maduro’s arrest photo reignited interest in the brand and pushed the look back into mainstream conversation.
Rubio’s rising 2028 profile
Trump has reportedly asked advisers to compare Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance as potential 2028 Republican contenders and has publicly praised both men.
In February, Trump told reporters, “J.D. is fantastic, and Marco is. They’re both fantastic, I think, really. And I think Marco did a great job in Munich,” while discussing Rubio’s prospects after positive reviews from the Munich Security Council.
Rubio’s rise in polls placed him alongside J.D. Vance as a top Republican contender for 2028. By: ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
At the annual Conservative Political Action Conference gathering in Texas, Rubio finished within 20 points of Vance in a poll of attendees on preferred 2028 candidates after barely registering in the survey a year earlier.
During a May 11 Rose Garden Club Dinner at the White House, Trump openly tested audience enthusiasm for possible 2028 contenders, asking the crowd, “Who likes J.D. Vance?” before later posing the same question about Rubio.