Sales of the Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit line surged following a widely shared photograph of detained Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wearing the garment. The image, captured aboard the USS Iwo Jima, went viral online and triggered an immediate spike in demand for the specific model.
Social media users dubbed the ensemble “Maduro grey,” with some jokingly describing it as perfect for Halloween or a “drug lord’s tracksuit.” On secondary markets, prices for the suit increased from $180 to between $500 and $1,000. The official Nike website reported that most sizes were sold out, leaving only XS, S, and XL in stock.
The trend coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s January 3 announcement of a large-scale military strike against Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores.
The Russian Foreign Ministry urged the United States to release Maduro and emphasized the need for diplomatic resolution of existing tensions. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez stated on January 4 that most of Maduro’s security personnel had died during U.S. operations, noting that the Venezuelan parliament would resume sessions on January 5.
Earlier in the day, Maduro was transported from Brooklyn to a Manhattan helicopter pad for his first federal court hearing in New York, where he faced drug trafficking charges. Spanish football club Mallorca players were also seen wearing similar tracksuits during their match, which some interpreted as a gesture of support.
