A moment of festive celebration at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony turned into a callout when U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, got booed by a portion of the crowd.
JD Vance got booed at Winter Olympics
The atmosphere was initially celebratory as the U.S. delegation entered the stadium during the lengthy Parade of Nations. Athletes in white Ralph Lauren coats received cheers and whistles from the global audience. However, the crowd’s mood seemed to shift noticeably when the broadcast feed cut from the athletes to the stands, briefly showing the vice president and his wife waving small American flags.
JD and Usha Vance’s appearance on the massive screens lasted only seconds but was met with a clear smattering of jeers and boos. The negative reaction was audible over the loud parade music. While the reaction was scattered rather than unified, it stood out sharply against the otherwise celebratory atmosphere of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
The boos were widely interpreted as a reflection of frustration in Italy over recent U.S. policies. Vice President Vance has been a vocal supporter of President Trump, frequently speaking publicly and posting on social media in defense of the administration.
His comments have included criticism of NATO and its member nations, support for the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation, and backing an immigration crackdown in the United States that has at times involved fatalities.
President Donald Trump addressed the incident while speaking to reporters on Air Force One, expressing surprise at the reaction. “Is that true? That’s surprising because people like him,” Trump said. “I mean, he is in a foreign country in all fairness. He doesn’t get booed in this country (via The New York Times).
However, tensions were already visible in Milan hours before the opening ceremony. Protesters took to the streets to condemn the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel in Italy.
