Boos Rain Down on VP Vance at Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony

A rare scene unfolded at the grand opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics when U.S. Vice President JD Vance was met with boos from the crowd.

During the ceremony held at San Siro Olympic Stadium in Milan, Italy, on Friday, Vance rose from his seat and applauded as the U.S. delegation entered the arena. When his image appeared on the stadium's large screen, boos erupted from the stands.

The jeering appeared to stem from recent tensions between the United States and Europe, as well as controversy surrounding enforcement activities by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The U.S. government had announced plans to dispatch ICE agents to support Italian security authorities during the Winter Olympics, sparking protests in the host country.

Prior to the Games, ICE and federal agents conducting immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, were involved in incidents where American citizens were fatally shot, drawing criticism.

Predictions had emerged before the opening ceremony that the U.S. team might face jeering from the crowd.

International news outlets widely reported on the booing directed at the vice president.

Reuters reported that "the crowd booed when Vance appeared on the big screen waving the American flag."