U.S. President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the frosty reception of second lady Usha Vance during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Italy by Vice President JD Vance and his wife. The audience reportedly booed when they saw the vice president on the big screen during the opening ceremony.
JD Vance was in Milan to attend the Parade of Nations as the US President’s delegate to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The crowd expressed disapproval of JD Vance’s presence and booed the US vice president at the historic San Siro stadium on February 6.
Over the crowd’s reaction to the international multi-sport event, a reporter asked Trump, “Did you see the vice president get booed during the opening ceremony? What do you think about that?” The 79-year-old Republican leader asked the reporter to repeat the question she asked: “Did the vice president get booed during the inauguration? How about the chilling…”
Expressing surprise, Trump said, “No. Is it true? Is it?” He explained the cool reaction from the audience, adding: “It’s surprising! Because people like him. Well, I mean, he’s in a foreign country, you know, in all fairness. They don’t boo him in this country.”
During Friday’s telecast of the commencement ceremony, CBC commentator Adrienne Arsenault said, “Here’s Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha — wow,” adding, “That’s not — oh, that’s a lot of boos for him. Boos, jeers, some applause.”
This was in stark contrast to the crowd’s reaction to seeing US athletes participate in the Winter Olympics. The American team received a warm welcome in Italy.
Earlier this week, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry said of the possibility of mocking the US delegation at San Siro for the Parade of Nations: “I hope everyone sees the opening ceremony as an opportunity for mutual respect.”
Milano Cortina 2026 officially begins
Milano Cortina 2026 officially kicked off on Friday with a tribute to, among others, Mona Lisa artist Leonardo da Vinci, Italian poet and writer Dante Alighieri, Italian composer Giacomo Puccini and Italian singer and composer Laura Pausini, Italian luxury fashion house Armani, Italian film director and screenwriter Federico Fellini.
The closing ceremony of the 25th Winter Olympics will be held on February 22 in the iconic Verona, where Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” took place.