US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared wearing the same style of tracksuit once worn by Nicolás Maduro while traveling alongside President Donald Trump for a critical summit in Beijing.
Rubio posed aboard the presidential aircraft, Air Force One, wearing a gray tracksuit. The outfit drew attention because it closely resembled the one worn by the Venezuelan leader after he was detained by US special forces in Caracas on January 3 and transported to the United States.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung shared the photo on social media, showing Rubio standing with his hands in his pockets and a serious expression, writing:
“Secretary Rubio rocking the Nike Tech ‘Venezuela’ on Air Force One!”
Western media outlets interpreted the gesture as a possible display of power ahead of the China visit.
On China’s Sanctions List
Despite being on China’s sanctions list over his criticism of human rights violations in the country, Rubio will still accompany the US president during the China visit.
According to reports, Beijing altered the Chinese spelling of Rubio’s surname to allow his entry into the country. One syllable in his surname was replaced with a different Chinese character pronounced “lu.”
‘His Entry Will Not Be Blocked’
Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu stated on Tuesday that Rubio would not be prevented from entering China.
“The sanctions targeted Mr. Rubio’s words and actions regarding China during his time as a US senator,” Liu said.
What Happened?
Maduro and his wife were detained during a US military operation at their residence in Caracas on January 3, 2026, and later brought to the United States. They face serious charges including “narco-terrorism,” “drug trafficking,” “money laundering,” and “criminal conspiracy.”