Trump Defends VP Vance After Olympics Boos

The president claims Vance doesn't get booed in the U.S., despite evidence to the contrary.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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U.S. President Donald Trump reacted with surprise to news that Vice President JD Vance was booed during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Trump claimed that Vance 'doesn't get booed in this country,' despite multiple instances of Vance being booed at events in the United States.

Why it matters

Trump's defense of his vice president highlights the ongoing political tensions and partisan divides in the country, as well as the president's tendency to make claims that are not supported by facts.

The details

Video footage showed Vance and his wife Usha being met with 'a lot of boos' from the crowd at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan. When asked about the booing, Trump expressed surprise and claimed that Vance 'doesn't get booed in this country.' However, there are multiple instances of Vance being booed at events in the U.S., including a firefighters' union conference in Boston, a ski vacation in Vermont, and an event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

  • On February 7, 2026, Vance was booed at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan, Italy.
  • In 2024, Vance was booed at a firefighters' union conference in Boston.
  • In March 2025, Vance was booed by protesters in Vermont during a family ski vacation.
  • Also in March 2025, Vance was booed by the audience at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
  • In August 2025, Vance was seen being heckled and booed in viral video clips from Washington, D.C.'s Union Station.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States.

JD Vance

The current Vice President of the United States, who has been booed at multiple events in the U.S.

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What they’re saying

“No, I didn't see that. Is that true, is that right? It's surprising, 'cause people like him.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Forbes Breaking News)

“Well, I mean he is in a foreign country, in all fairness. But, uh, he doesn't get booed in this country.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Forbes Breaking News)

What’s next

It remains to be seen how Vice President Vance and the White House will respond to the president's claims, given the evidence of Vance being booed at multiple events in the United States.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing political divisions in the country and the president's tendency to make claims that are not supported by facts, even when it comes to his own administration's officials.