Sunday, February 8, 2026 - US Vice President J.D. Vance was met with a chorus of boos and jeers when he appeared on the jumbotron during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday night. Vance and his wife, Usha, were shown standing and waving American flags inside the San Siro Stadium as Team USA was introduced.
According to NBC's broadcast commentary, the audience
reaction included audible hissing directed at the Vice President, while cheers
that followed were interpreted as support for the American athletes, not the
political figure. The mixed reception for Team USA and the outright hostility
toward Vance highlighted the political tensions overshadowing the sporting
event.
The incident follows Vance's earlier attendance at an
Olympic ice hockey match in Milan, where he was accompanied by US Secretary of
State Marco Rubio and two Olympic gold medal-winning hockey sisters. Both Vance
and Rubio are considered potential contenders for the 2028 Republican
presidential nomination. Organizers had anticipated possible political
protests; the appearance of Israel's delegation at the opening ceremony also
drew boos from sections of the crowd.
The visit has occurred amid rumors in Italy about the
potential presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents
operating during the Games. Italy's Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi,
addressed the Chamber of Deputies to dismiss these claims, stating, "ICE
does not and will never be able to carry out operational police activities on
our national territory." He clarified that any ICE personnel present would
be limited to analysis and information exchange with Italian authorities.
Team USA has sent a record delegation of 232 athletes to the
Milano Cortina Games, its largest Winter Olympics team in history.
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