Secretary of State Marco Rubio ditched his ordinary go well with for a Nike tracksuit aboard Air Drive One, sparking widespread on-line reactions as photos of the sudden look unfold throughout social media.
Images posted to X by White Home communications director Steven Cheung confirmed Rubio carrying a grey Nike Tech fleece outfit — a notably informal departure from the formal apparel sometimes worn by high U.S. officers throughout official journey.
The second comes as Rubio travels with President Donald Trump on a high-stakes journey to China, the place officers are anticipated to concentrate on commerce and nationwide safety points, making a distinction between high-level diplomacy and a social media-driven vogue second.
The outfit shortly drew comparisons to the web’s so-called “Venezuela Nike Tech” meme, which gained traction earlier this 12 months after photos of Venezuelan chief Nicolás Maduro carrying an identical tracksuit circulated on-line.
Dan Gainor: From Secretary Of State To Secretary Of Memes, Rubio Wins Over Maga
Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends the G7 International Ministers’ Assembly on the Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay in Cernay-la-Ville, France, on March 27, 2026.
(Getty Photographs)
Social media customers flooded X with jokes and commentary after the photographs surfaced.
Learn On The Fox Information App
“Is Marco going to be the DJ for the flight?” one X consumer wrote alongside an edited picture exhibiting Rubio standing behind a DJ sales space.
One other viral meme labeled Rubio “Nicolás Maduro as Marco Rubio,” persevering with the comparisons between the secretary of state’s outfit and the now-viral Maduro photos.
Marco Rubio Noticed Behind Dj Sales space At Household Marriage ceremony As Social Media Reacts To Viral Clip
One other consumer wrote, “Okay — did I miss certainly one of Marco Rubio’s new jobs? Sportswear mannequin?”
Others dubbed the outfit “the Maduro match,” whereas some questioned the informal apparel aboard Air Drive One.
Rubio has additionally turn out to be an unlikely recurring viral determine on-line in latest weeks. Earlier this month, movies shared by White Home officers confirmed the secretary of state DJing at a household marriage ceremony, carrying headphones behind a mixing sales space as company danced round him.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards Air Drive One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Might 12, 2026 as he departs for a 3-day state go to to China.
Click on Right here To Obtain The Fox Information App
Nike Tech fleece tracksuits have surged in reputation on-line in latest months, fueled partly by the Maduro photos that helped flip the minimalist athletic fashion into an unlikely political meme.
Whereas senior officers are sometimes seen in formal put on throughout Air Drive One journey, Rubio’s off-duty look supplied a uncommon behind-the-scenes glimpse — and shortly grew to become one other social media speaking level.
Authentic article supply: Marco Rubio noticed in Nike tracksuit aboard Air Drive One throughout journey to China, igniting memes on-line