Team USA walked into the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan to a huge wave of cheers. But that warm welcome quickly turned cold the moment Vice President JD Vance showed up on the big screen. The event took place at San Siro Stadium.
The Parade of Nations is always a highlight. According to USA Today, as the U.S. athletes entered wearing their matching Ralph Lauren outfits, the crowd broke into loud applause. But when the Jumbotron showed Vice President Vance and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, waving small American flags from their seats, the cheers instantly turned into loud boos.
This strong public reaction isn’t surprising given the global news about political tensions under the Trump administration. Earlier that day, protests were already held in Milan about the reported presence of U.S. immigration agents in Italy. A U.S. Olympic official said that ICE agents weren’t officially part of the country’s delegation, but they couldn’t confirm if those agents were helping with the U.S. embassy’s security plan.
The absence of President Trump adds another layer to the political moment
President Trump didn’t attend the ceremony himself. He’s shown up at major sporting events recently, including the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Miami last month and the Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Instead, Vice President Vance led the official U.S. delegation, which also included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Tom Fertitta, the U.S. ambassador to Italy.
Vance sat next to the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry. During the initial introductions, spectators ignored Vance and cheered loudly for Mattarella instead. But once the Parade of Nations started, they made their political feelings very clear. The administration has faced mounting criticism over escalating military actions in its drug war efforts.
The American team was the third-to-last country to enter the stadium, right before France and host country Italy. France will host the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps. Speed skater Erin Jackson proudly carried the American flag as she led the team onto the stage under the gold Olympic rings.
Because these Winter Games are spread across different locations, the Parade of Nations happened at four different venues at the same time. American athletes entered separate venues in Livigno, Predazzo, and Cortina, depending on where their events were held. Bobsledder Frank Del Duca served as a flag bearer for the American team in Cortina.
The Italian crowd didn’t just boo the U.S. delegation. They also booed the Israeli delegation earlier during the Parade of Nations. On a more positive note, the Ukrainian delegation received a long, heartfelt round of applause.
Before the ceremony, Vance met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and watched performances during the team figure skating event. While foreign policy challenges continue, there have been surprising shifts in U.S.-Iran diplomatic discussions recently.
Published: Feb 7, 2026 03:45 pm