MILAN, ITALY — The spirit of international cooperation at the Winter Olympics faced a moment of friction this week as U.S. Vice President J.D.

Vance made his appearance. Despite waving a miniature American flag and clapping for the athletes, Vance—and by extension, the official Team USA delegation—received a noticeable wave of boos from the international crowd during the opening ceremonies and several high-profile events.

Observers attribute the “frosty reception” to a combination of European disapproval of current U.S. foreign policies and Vance’s own polarizing reputation on the global stage. While Vance remained composed, the incident served as a stark reminder of the challenges the current administration faces in repairing its image abroad.

Despite the heckling, Vance emphasized that the focus should remain on the “extraordinary grit” of American athletes, though the political undertones of the games have become impossible to ignore.