Why was JD Vance and His wife Usha Vance booed at Winter Olympics opening ceremony? All about the viral incident that unfolded at the Games

In a major turn of events at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, where Team USA athletes were received with a warm welcome, the United States’ Vice President JD Vance was booed. The grand celebration that marked the commencement of the Quadrennial Games was held at four locations.

While the opening ceremony began at the San Siro Stadium, it simultaneously entertained the fans at separate venues in Livigno, Predazzo, and Cortina. As the event saw the absence of the United States’ president, Donald Trump, the athletes received support from the vice president, Vance, and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance.

They were both seen on the stadium’s Jumbotron, sitting beside the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry. As the camera panned towards the couple, loud boos were heard. The cold reception was linked to the ongoing and frequent political turmoil and immigration enforcement in the country.

The recent fatal shootings by immigration agents in the U.S. also contributed to the hostile welcome. Protests were planned in Milan after rumors of the U.S. immigration officers’ (ICE) presence in Italy. However, the U.S. Olympic official confirmed that ICE wasn’t a part of the nation’s delegation, but added that they weren’t sure if the ICE agents were dealing with security for the U.S. embassy in Italy.

Team USA athletes to watch out for at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Team USA is present at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics with the largest squad ever in the history of their participation. The massive squad includes 98 returning Olympians, 16 athletes who have won multiple Olympic medals, and 33 Olympic medalists. Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn, and Chloe Kim are a few of the athletes who will be the favorites to dominate their respective events.

Shiffrin will compete at the Games for the fourth time after having won a gold medal in the slalom event at the 2014 Sochi and in the giant slalom event at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Vonn has also made a strong return to the sport after a knee replacement surgery. She will return to the sport’s greatest platform after having previously won one gold and two bronze medals. Kim is also considered one of the prospects to medal at the Winter Olympics after becoming the first woman to win two Olympic halfpipe gold medals at the 2018 and 2022 editions.