The New York Times has removed former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro from its "39-ish Most Stylish People of 2026" list, according to an editor's note.
The note, dated July 7, stated, "This article has been updated to remove an entry on Nicolás Maduro. Read our Styles story about how an image of him in a tracksuit became a meme." The list was originally published on July 7.
The Times' style section had reported on how a photo of Maduro in a grey tracksuit, posted on then-President Donald Trump's Truth Social account after his capture, went viral and became a meme. In January, the Times' style piece noted that "some people online have sidestepped the politics and seized upon the image itself, in order to talk about the clothing."
The U.S. military conducted strikes against Venezuela and captured Maduro on January 3, 2026. The operation reportedly handicapped Venezuela's defense systems and may have included cyber operations against Caracas. Maduro is currently awaiting trial on federal drug trafficking and weapons charges.
Other individuals on The Times' list included Stephen Colbert, Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr., New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's wife Rama Duwaji, Second Lady Usha Vance, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Katie Miller, wife of Stephen Miller. Vance, Miller, and Leavitt were featured in a section titled "Pregnant Women in the Trump Sphere."