Team USA Booed in Italy: What Happened at the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony

On Friday, February 6, 2026, the opening ceremony of the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy offered a spectacle meant to celebrate unity, international competition and cultural exchange — but for many American viewers and officials, the night was marked by an unexpected and uncomfortable moment of public dissent. Though Team USA’s athletes were largely greeted with cheers, a strong portion of the crowd booed the U.S. political delegation — particularly Vice President J.D. Vance and the Second Lady — when they appeared on the stadium’s big screens at San Siro Stadium in Milan.

The incident sparked global attention and debate, illustrating how political tensions and diplomacy sometimes intersect with international sporting events — especially when political figures represent nations on a highly visible stage. Below is a detailed look at what happened, why it mattered, and how the moment was interpreted in the United States and abroad.

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The Scene: Olympics, Cheers and then Boos

From the outset, the opening ceremony was a celebration of Italy’s culture and global sporting unity, complete with performances, pageantry and the Parade of Nations, in which athletes from participating countries enter the stadium before the games officially begin. Team USA — proudly dressed and led by flag bearer Erin Jackson — received a warm reception and loud applause from attendees as they walked into the San Siro Stadium.

That positive energy shifted abruptly when U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, were shown on the jumbo screen cheering and waving small American flags from the stands. In that brief moment, portions of the crowd began to boo, whistle and jeer in audible fashion — a reaction that was clearly captured on some international feeds, though parts of U.S. network coverage edited the audible reaction.

NBC’s commentator Mary Carillo remarked, “Those are not — oh — those are a lot of boos for him,” underscoring the noticeable shift in the audience’s mood when the camera focused on the vice president. Just prior to that, cheers had welcomed the American athletes.

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Why the Booing Happened

Unlike a sporting match where boos might be directed at a rival player or controversial in‑game call, the boos in Milan were not aimed at the athletes themselves — they were directed toward what the figures on the screen represented: U.S. political leadership.

Several factors help explain the crowd’s reaction:

1. Political Climate and U.S. Foreign Policy

International tensions under the current U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump’s second term and his vice president’s role, have strained relations with certain European countries. Issues such as controversial immigration policies, including enforcement actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — which had drawn protests in Milan ahead of the Games — contributed to local frustration, especially among sections of the Italian public.

Hundreds of demonstrators undertook “ICE OUT” protests in Milan earlier in the week, opposing what they perceived as U.S. overreach and the reported presence of U.S. immigration authorities at the Games. Discussions about the U.S. approach to immigration enforcement and related domestic controversies quickly spilled into the context of the Olympics.

2. Symbolism of Political Figures at Non‑Political Events

While the Olympics emphasize neutrality and international cooperation, the presence of high‑ranking U.S. political leaders — notably the vice president — on the big screen during the Parade of Nations blurred the line between sport and politics. Some spectators regarded the political presence not as part of the athletic celebration but as an extension of contentious political debates.

Vance’s appearance, particularly in direct association with American athletes, thus came to symbolize broader disagreements with U.S. policies in the eyes of certain segments of the crowd.

3. Global View of U.S. Leadership

During major international events, global audiences often project their broader views of a country’s global behavior and leadership onto that country’s delegation. For many Europeans, U.S. foreign policy — whether on trade, environmental agreements, immigration or diplomatic relations — is not seen in isolation, and those feelings can surface in unexpected settings like sporting events.

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Broader Reactions: Italy, the Olympics and Respect

International Olympic Committee (IOC) leadership had urged attendees to maintain respect toward all nations and their representatives, emphasizing the unifying spirit of the Games. IOC President Kirsty Coventry publicly expressed hopes that the opening ceremony would be “an opportunity to show respect for each other.”

Italy’s mayor of Milan had also been vocal in opposition to U.S. immigration enforcement’s involvement in Olympic security planning, concerns which had already fueled some protests in the host city.

Despite that, the overall atmosphere remained celebratory, especially during cultural performances and artistic displays celebrating Italian heritage and global unity. The boos were a localized reaction to one specific moment, rather than a blanket rejection of Team USA or the Olympic ideals.

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Did Team USA Feel the Reaction?

According to reports, U.S. athletes themselves were greeted warmly by fans and received loud cheers during the parade. The boos became evident only when the political delegation was shown on the jumbotron — suggesting that even fans who were enthusiastic about American competitors still distinguished between sport and politics.

This distinction is important: while the crowd’s jeers were unmistakable, they were not directed at the athletes’ performance or their representation of their country’s Olympic aspirations. Instead, the boos reflected attitudes toward the U.S. government and its political representatives.

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Broadcast Coverage and Public Perception

There was notable disparity in how media covered the boos:

• International and Canadian broadcasts carried audio of the crowd’s reaction, making the jeers clearly audible to viewers outside the U.S.

• Several U.S. networks, including NBC, edited or downplayed the audio of the boos in their domestic broadcasts, opting not to emphasize the audience’s reaction to Vice President Vance.

This decision fueled further discussion on social media about how political reactions at global events are framed for different audiences and how national media choose which moments to highlight.

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Political Echoes and Domestic Response

In the United States, the crowd’s reactions in Milan quickly became a topic of political conversation. Conservative commentators and officials criticized the booing as disrespectful to a U.S. delegation, while others argued that the reaction was an expression of free speech and reflected broader international criticisms of U.S. leadership choices.

Additionally, clips of the booing quickly went viral online, with many Americans expressing surprise that sports fans at an Olympic celebration would voice disapproval of U.S. political figures.

For some observers abroad and in the U.S., the episode highlighted the challenges national delegations face when high‑ranking government officials represent their countries at international sporting events — blurring lines between athletic celebration and contemporary geopolitics.

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How Italy and Other Delegations Responded

Notably, some other teams also received mixed reactions during the opening ceremony:

• Israel’s delegation, entering earlier in the Parade of Nations, heard some boos, though these were quickly overshadowed by the loud ceremonial soundtrack and general parade festivities.

Italy and other nations participating in the Games largely maintained an atmosphere focused on competition and camaraderie despite localized expressions of protest.

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Why This Moment Matters Beyond the Stadium

This incident illustrates how global sporting events do not exist in a political vacuum — especially in a world where social media and instant communication mean political contexts follow athletes and delegations to every corner of the globe.

The reaction in Milan reflects:

• Tensions between U.S. government policy and segments of international public opinion.

• The enduring challenge of distinguishing between national identity and political leadership on the world stage.

• The Olympics’ dual roles as both a celebration of sport and a stage for broader social expression.

The boos also show that Olympic hosts and spectators may not always separate enthusiasm for sport from their views on the world’s geopolitical landscape — a reminder that athletes and government representatives alike carry the weight of national identity and policy perception.

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Final Thoughts

While Team USA’s athletes in Milan were primarily greeted with cheers and support, the moment when Vice President J.D. Vance and the U.S. political delegation appeared on the large screens resulted in visible and audible disapproval from portions of the crowd — a reflection less of athletic rivalry and more of international concern over political and diplomatic issues.