US Vice President J.D. Vance was booed at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan; President Trump expressed surprise at the reaction.
Vance Booed at Olympics
US Vice President J.D. Vance was booed on Friday, February 6 during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics. President Donald Trump told reporters that he was surprised by this reaction.
“It’s surprising because people love him. Well, he’s in a foreign country, you know – to be honest – but in this country, no one is booed,” Trump said to reporters on board Air Force One en route to Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump’s Statement Questioned
Journalists from the German press agency DPA pointed out that Trump’s statement is not true, as Vance has been booed before, including during a concert at the Kennedy Center last year and at other events in Washington.
Protests Against ICE
On Friday, before the ceremony, hundreds of people demonstrated in Milan against the presence of US immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) officials in Italy and against street closures for the Olympics.
Protesters chanted anti-American slogans, set off flares, and carried banners reading “ICE go home” and “ICE should be in my drink, not in my city.” Many used whistles, a symbol of similar protests in the US.
The Italian government assured that ICE officials will not patrol the streets during the Olympics, limiting their presence to diplomatic activities. The American Olympic and Paralympic Committee confirmed that ICE agents are not responsible for the security of the US delegation.
Further Protests Planned
Additional protests are planned in Milan, including a torchlight march organized by a movement opposing the Olympics.
