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JD Vance, wife Usha brutally booed at Milan Olympics despite warnings - Watch
Vice President JD Vance and his wife were in Milan on Friday, supporting the American contingent during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony
Vice President JD Vance and his wife were in Milan on Friday, supporting the American contingent during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. However, the crowd was not particularly excited about their attendance. As the cameras panned towards the couple, loud boos were heard.
The Independent’s Flo Clifford, who was reporting from inside San Siro, noted that there was a ‘largely positive reception for the US contingent’, but ‘very definite boos and jeers for vice president JD Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, who the camera pans to waving American flags for a few brief seconds’.
Even social media users shared videos, with boos heard in the background.
Vance was not the only one booed on Friday. Earlier in the day, Israel's athletes faced intense booes as they entered the stadium. “There appears to be a security detail following closely behind the athletes,” Flo reported.
Warning ahead of JD Vance's appearance
It was only this week that IOC President Kirsty Coventry warned attendees about booing American athletes or VP Vance.
"I hope that the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as an opportunity to be respectful of each other," she said.
Why JD Vance, Usha were booed
Friday's reaction was in response to reports about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Milan during the Winter Olympics. Italian politicians have strongly criticized their presence. However, an official clarified that the agents are not a part of the Team USA delegation.
“I can tell you unequivocally, there are no ICE agents that are part of the team USA delegation on the ground here in Milan. When it comes to securing major events, a lot of people don't know what the capacities and the capabilities and the resources that are needed, so there's a lot of misinformation and assumptions that are made,” US Olympic & Paralympic Committee Chief Security Officer Nicole Deal said during a news conference Thursday.
"I think this inaccuracy that ICE is here on the ground, securing games was one of those. So, I'm glad we're able to set the record straight and provide on-the-ground truth that ICE is not part of the Team USA delegation."
