Fact check: 'Maduro tracksuit' goes viral after US captures President; has it sold out?
It's been two days since Donald Trump stunned the world with the announcement that the US had launched strikes on Venezuela and spirited away its President, Nicolás Maduro, to stand trial for drug-related crimes in New York.As the world reacted in shock (and, in many parts, jubilation), a photo released by Trump of the captured Venezuelan President aboard the USS Iwo Jima has sparked an unexpected parallel headline: the Nike tracksuit Maduro was dressed in.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.The image — posted on Trump’s Truth Social account, in response to a demand by Venezuelan Vice-President for "proof of life" — shows Maduro in a grey tracksuit, wearing what appear to be noise-cancelling headphones and dark glasses, holding a water bottle, with his hands apparently restrained. And as can only be expected in 2026, it quickly went viral. Photo shared by Donald Trump/ Truth Social Fixating on his outfit — a grey Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit — the memes began. Accounts began posting 'Get that look' guides, prices et al; some referred to the look as the Nike x Maduro collection; others crowed over how Nike was 'the real winner' in the whole debacle.American sports and commentary website Outkick posted the below image; however, readers should be advised that it is merely an illustration and not a representation of an actual billboard: Outkick shared an illustrative billboard of Maduro wearing a Nike fleece tracksuit at the time of his arrestSearch trends for 'Nike Maduro' began climbing after the capture and has hit peak levels on Google over the last two days (see image below):Graphic: Google Trends All sold out?As with most viral news, however, misinformation seems to be spreading just as quickly. Several media outlets have reported that the tracksuit has sold out.Khaleej Times reached out to multiple Nike stores across the country to verify the claim and can confirm — this is not true in the UAE. A salesperson at one of the brand's Dubai stores said a few pieces of the tracksuit are still in stock. "We haven't seen any jump in demand since the news [of the Venezuelan President's capture] this weekend," the person said. Nike has not released an official statement yet.On the brand's UAE website, stocks for the tracksuit remain available, listing at Dh629 for the Men's Fleece Windrunner Full-Zip Jacket and Dh529 for the Men's Open Hem Fleece Trousers.Even if the claim originated in the US and got lost in translation across borders, a quick check of the US website for Nike shows several pieces still available in various sizes.Safe to conclude: this is just yet another reminder of why not to believe everything you see on social media.(With reporting inputs by Salma El Omla)US strikes Venezuela: World leaders react as Trump says Maduro 'captured'US to ‘run’ Venezuela, use oil reserves until transition after Maduro capture
It's been two days since Donald Trump stunned the world with the announcement that the US had launched strikes on Venezuela and spirited away its President, Nicolás Maduro, to stand trial for drug-related crimes in New York.
As the world reacted in shock (and, in many parts, jubilation), a photo released by Trump of the captured Venezuelan President aboard the USS Iwo Jima has sparked an unexpected parallel headline: the Nike tracksuit Maduro was dressed in.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Photo shared by Donald Trump/ Truth Social
The image — posted on Trump’s Truth Social account, in response to a demand by Venezuelan Vice-President for "proof of life" — shows Maduro in a grey tracksuit, wearing what appear to be noise-cancelling headphones and dark glasses, holding a water bottle, with his hands apparently restrained. And as can only be expected in 2026, it quickly went viral. 
Fixating on his outfit — a grey Nike Tech Fleece tracksuit — the memes began. Accounts began posting 'Get that look' guides, prices et al; some referred to the look as the Nike x Maduro collection; others crowed over how Nike was 'the real winner' in the whole debacle.
American sports and commentary website Outkick posted the below image; however, readers should be advised that it is merely an illustration and not a representation of an actual billboard: Outkick shared an illustrative billboard of Maduro wearing a Nike fleece tracksuit at the time of his arrest
Search trends for 'Nike Maduro' began climbing after the capture and has hit peak levels on Google over the last two days (see image below): Graphic: Google Trends
All sold out?
As with most viral news, however, misinformation seems to be spreading just as quickly. Several media outlets have reported that the tracksuit has sold out.
Khaleej Times reached out to multiple Nike stores across the country to verify the claim and can confirm — this is not true in the UAE.
A salesperson at one of the brand's Dubai stores said a few pieces of the tracksuit are still in stock. "We haven't seen any jump in demand since the news [of the Venezuelan President's capture] this weekend," the person said. Nike has not released an official statement yet.
On the brand's UAE website, stocks for the tracksuit remain available, listing at Dh629 for the Men's Fleece Windrunner Full-Zip Jacket and Dh529 for the Men's Open Hem Fleece Trousers.
Even if the claim originated in the US and got lost in translation across borders, a quick check of the US website for Nike shows several pieces still available in various sizes.
Safe to conclude: this is just yet another reminder of why not to believe everything you see on social media.
(With reporting inputs by Salma El Omla)
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