Donald Trump reacted to JD Vance being booed during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan, where Vance and his wife were among Trump’s representatives at the marquee Games. The key reason for the reaction was the growing political tensions in the United States and the way the world is viewing its immigration policies.
The opening ceremony was held on February 7, 2026, and welcomed 232 athletes from the US, the largest team in the Winter Games’ history. They will compete across 16 disciplines over two weeks in Milan.
Donald Trump Makes His Stance Clear on JD Vance Being Booed During Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Trump administration often comes under fire for its policies, which clash with global expectations of US leadership. Something similar happened at the opening ceremony of the Milan Games, which rolled in on February 7, 2026. US Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, attended the event on behalf of Trump but were met with boos and jeers from the crowd.
During the Parade of Nations, the packed Team USA, featuring athletes and officials, marched into the San Siro stadium to loud cheers and applause. However, the atmosphere shifted to boos when the Jumbotron showed Vance and his wife holding small U.S. flags.
The incident did not please the president, who was surprised by the public’s reaction toward Vance in another country, especially since he had not faced such a hostile reception in his own country.
“That’s surprising because people like him. Well, I mean, he is in a foreign country, you know, in all fairness. He doesn’t get booed in this country,” he said.
Sources at the U.S. Embassy in Rome had previously confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be among the agencies present at the Games, but Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala dismissed the claim and refused to welcome them. Several protests followed, demanding that ICE officers leave Italy.
READ MORE: When Does Each Country March During the 2026 Winter Olympics’ Opening Ceremony?
The Milan-Cortina Games are the first Winter Games hosted by two cities, incorporating Italian culture and featuring models that embrace the national flag, food, and more attractions.
Aside from the celebrations, geopolitical tensions also came to the fore. Russian and Belarusian athletes were stripped of national flags and anthems, and will participate as neutrals amid the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Some US athletes also refused to back their nation completely, especially freestyle skier Hunter Hess, who said:
“Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.”
Some US athletes to watch out for at the 2026 Winter Olympics are Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin in alpine skiing, Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, and Amber Glenn in figure skating, Chloe and Bea Kim in snowboarding, Jessie Diggins in cross-country skiing, and Jordan Stolz in speed skating, among others.
