Former President Donald Trump commented after U.S. Senator JD Vance was booed during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. While American athletes were greeted with applause and standing ovations, cameras captured Vance and his wife, Usha, waving the U.S. flag at San Siro Stadium to a noticeably colder reaction. Many American viewers never saw the moment, as NBC reportedly cut the footage from its live broadcast.
The reaction toward Vance was not isolated. Athletes representing Israel were also met with boos, despite the International Olympic Committee urging spectators to remain respectful. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams later addressed the situation, saying, “we don’t like to see booing… It’s important that we support our athletes,” emphasizing the importance of civility during Olympic events.
Trump reacted to the incident while speaking to reporters, expressing surprise at the reception Vance received. “It’s surprising because people like him. Well, I mean, he is in a foreign country, in all fairness. But he doesn’t get booed in this country,” Trump said. Political observers, however, noted that Vance has previously been booed in the United States, including at public appearances in 2024 and 2025.
The moment quickly spread online after Usha Vance shared a photo from the ceremony with the caption, “What a thrilling start to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan! Go Team USA – we’re rooting for you!” Social media users responded with humor and irony. One comment read, “Could you repeat that? I couldn’t hear over the boos,” while another added, “Didn’t y’all get booed?”
Despite the reaction, Vance and his wife appeared calm and continued waving to the crowd. Analysts said the incident reflects how political figures are often received differently from athletes at international events, and how a single moment can spark wide debate about politics, media choices, and public perception on a global stage.
