"What Is That Outfit in the Photo?"... 'Maduro Tracksuit' Sells Out Amid Search Frenzy

Nike Tracksuit Searches Surge After Arrest Photo Goes Viral
Sold Out in Some Regions, Online Parodies Spread Rapidly

After images were released showing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was arrested by the US military, wearing a Nike tracksuit, online searches for the product surged. According to foreign media reports, the sudden increase in demand even led to some items selling out.

On January 4 (local time), Spanish outlet El Espanol and India's Times of India reported that the photo of Maduro in a Nike tracksuit, released immediately after his arrest, spread rapidly across social media platforms. The media noted, "While governments around the world discussed and interpreted the implications of Maduro's arrest, social media users focused on the clothes he was wearing."

US President Donald Trump revealed the image of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro immediately after his arrest on the 3rd (local time). Truth Social

Previously, US President Donald Trump posted on his social media, "Maduro is aboard the USS Iwo Jima," along with a photo. In the image, President Maduro is seen wearing a gray Nike tracksuit, blindfolded, and handcuffed.

The outfit Maduro wore was identified as part of Nike's 'Tech Fleece' line. Immediately after the photo was made public, Google Trends showed a spike in searches for terms like "Nike Tech Fleece" and "Maduro Tech Fleece." In some regions, such as Spain, certain sizes of the product sold out on Nike's official online store, and it even appeared on the bestseller list.

Given that Maduro has long positioned himself as anti-American and has criticized Western capitalism, the fact that he was wearing apparel from a brand symbolic of American capitalism led to a wave of memes and parodies. Responses ranged from mockingly dubbing the tracksuit color "Maduro Grey," to comments like "the perfect Halloween costume," "for the gym, for errands, and for federal detention."

Additionally, a flood of AI-generated images and parodies appeared. Some memes showed Maduro dancing on stage in Nike attire, or listed Nike product prices in an ad-like format. Foreign media noted, "This case illustrates how, in today's news environment, a single image can spread faster than complex international political issues."