A Maine-based apparel company claims it made the pullover that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was photographed wearing following his arrest.
Origin USA, a clothing brand co-founded by author and podcaster Jocko Willink, posted an unverified image Saturday of a handcuffed Maduro wearing their “Patriot Blue RTX” shirt as Drug Enforcement Administration agents pose beside him.
In a post to the company’s Facebook page, founder Pete Roberts said a DEA agent gave Maduro the shirt.
Maduro and his wife were taken from Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas early Saturday morning to face criminal charges in the United States, with President Donald Trump later announcing that his administration plans to run Venezuela “indefinitely.”
Origin USA seems to be leaning into the exposure, with a flurry of posts mocking the arrested leader and promoting its brand.
One post reads: “Welcome to America. Good news, our ‘Patriot Blue’ RTX shirt will be shipping in the spring. They are available for pre-order!”
The company has a manufacturing location and pro shop in Farmington.
Daniel Hogue-Chelle works in Farmington. He was surprised to hear about Origin USA’s post.
“I guess it’s [a] feather in your cap to say that their quality is good enough to be on the backs of somebody who is a president,” Hogue-Chelle said.
Farmington resident John Whitney was also surprised.
“Just because it’s high end and good quality, somebody that you know has a lot of money would probably be looking for something like that,” Whitney said.
In photos released following Maduro’s arrest, he appears in several different outfits. It remains unconfirmed whether any of these were worn at the time of his arrest or how he obtained the blue pullover.