JD Vance's Olympic Debut: More Photo-Ops Than Protests at Milan Hockey Game
US Vice-President JD Vance made his first Olympic appearance on Thursday, attending the United States women's hockey team's opener at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. The event, which drew several thousand spectators to Milan's western suburbs, unfolded with more focus on celebrity spectacle than geopolitical tension, despite officials' concerns about potential vocal crowd reactions against the US delegation.
A High-Profile Delegation in Milan
Vance is in Italy to lead the official US delegation at Friday's opening ceremony, accompanied by his wife, second lady Usha Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and billionaire Tilman Fertitta, the US ambassador to Italy and owner of the NBA's Houston Rockets. The group watched Thursday's game from prime seats behind the scorer's table, alongside Olympic gold medal-winning hockey sisters Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando.
Nearly four dozen US Secret Service agents formed a tight security perimeter around Vance's party, but the dominant atmosphere was one of celebrity gravity. Volunteers, arena staff, private security, and media members raised phones to record the vice-president's arrival, turning the moment into a theatrical display rather than a political flashpoint.
Diplomatic Posture and Political Concerns
The US Olympic delegation in Milan, which includes organizers involved in planning the 2034 Winter Games in Utah, is operating in what officials privately describe as a heightened diplomatic posture. Olympic officials have quietly expressed hope that the opening ceremony will proceed without political demonstrations directed at American athletes or officials.
Some of this concern stems from Italian political reaction to reports that US immigration enforcement analysts would be present at the Games in an advisory capacity. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has clarified that these personnel will not perform any law enforcement role on Italian streets, dismissing criticism as politically driven.
A Quiet Reception and Olympic Theater
Anticipation of a vocal crowd reaction to the high-profile political presence largely failed to materialise. Ticket-holders showed little response when Vance and Rubio slipped into the stands midway through the first period. At one point, Vance was seen quietly joining fans in a chant of "U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!" while the arena DJ played a techno remix of the Trump campaign anthem YMCA moments before the US team took the ice.
On the ice, the Americans appeared largely unaware of the moment unfolding behind them, with veteran forward Hilary Knight saying afterward that she and her teammates did not notice Vance's arrival. The US women controlled early play against the Czech Republic, closing out a 5-1 victory, while Vance alternated between watching the game and scanning the crowd, aware he was being watched almost as closely as the action on the ice.
Vance's Arrival and Message to Athletes
Earlier on Thursday, Vance and his wife arrived in Milan ahead of Friday's opening ceremony, with Vance wearing a blue zip-up jacket featuring a US flag patch and Usha Vance sporting a white fleece with the Stars and Stripes across the back. Television footage showed the couple being welcomed by a group of American athletes at Malpensa Airport, several of whom applauded as they stepped off the plane.
Speaking with athletes shortly afterward, Vance framed the Olympics as a rare national unifier, telling competitors that Americans across the political spectrum were rallying behind them. "The whole country – Democrat, Republican, Independent – we're all rooting for you," he said. "We're cheering for you, and we know you're going to make us proud."
He shared a personal anecdote about how the second lady, not typically a sports fan, becomes fully absorbed in the Olympics every two years, insisting they watch together—a tradition since they first started dating. This, he suggested, reflects the Games' ability to capture the attention of people who otherwise pay little attention to sport.
Meetings and Venue Visits
Rubio joined the couple shortly after their arrival, and the group paused for photographs before departing for Olympic meetings and venue visits. Earlier in the day, Vance also met members of several US freestyle skiing teams, greeting athletes individually, placing credential passes around several necks, and asking about their backgrounds. He mentioned taking up skiing in recent years and inquired about their excitement heading into the Games, with the interactions culminating in group photos.
Vance is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit, adding a diplomatic layer to the Olympic journey. For now, however, the focus in Milan remains on the ice, where the US women's hockey team's strong start has set a positive tone for the American delegation's Olympic campaign.
