SUMMARY
- JD Vance and his wife Usha were met with jeers and scattered applause as Team USA entered San Siro stadium.
- NBC’s US coverage did not include crowd reactions, while Canadian CBC footage captured the boos.
- The event coincided with protests against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence at the Games.
MILAN — US Vice President JD Vance faced boos from portions of the crowd at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday, though American viewers of NBC’s broadcast did not hear the negative reaction.
The incident highlighted ongoing tensions over US domestic politics during international sporting events. As speedskater Erin Jackson led Team USA into the stadium, cheers dominated the crowd.
But when cameras cut to Vance and his wife, audible jeers echoed, captured by Canadian broadcaster CBC. Sean Ingle of The Guardian and Christine Brennan of USA Today reported the negative reception.
NBC, the US broadcaster, did not broadcast the boos, instead showing only footage of Vance applauding. Instances of American political figures receiving muted or censored audience reactions are not new.
At the 2025 US Open, organizers requested that broadcasters avoid showing disruptions during former President Donald Trump’s attendance at the men’s final. This approach raises questions about international audiences versus domestic broadcast management.
“The split in audience reactions underscores the global visibility of US politics,” said Dr. Emily Rosenberg, a professor of international relations at Boston University. “Sports events are increasingly venues for political expression, intentional or not.”
Francesco Gallo, senior researcher at the European Institute for Sports Policy, Added that “international protests against figures like JD Vance or ICE presence reflect broader societal concerns, not isolated incidents.”
Hunter Hess, US freestyle skier, said, “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US” Protesters outside the stadium criticized ICE’s Olympic presence, emphasizing separation from US immigration enforcement at home.
The incident may prompt Olympic organizers and broadcasters to consider how political figures are presented during live international events, balancing crowd reactions with broadcast narratives.
The reaction to JD Vance illustrates the intersection of politics and sport, reflecting how global audiences interpret American leadership and policy, even within nonpolitical contexts.
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