Martina Navratilova Doesn’t Hold Back on Boos Directed Towards JD Vance & Wife Usha at Milan Olympics

JD Vance & Wife Usha were at the center of attention during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Martina Navratilova Doesn’t Hold Back on Boos Directed Towards JD Vance & Wife Usha at Milan Olympics

Martina Navratilova Winter Olympics (via Sportskeeda)

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The opening ceremony of the Olympics is supposed to be a moment of global unity. One knows the drill: fireworks, parades, a feeling that for a few weeks, the world can actually get along. But at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, that illusion of harmony shattered pretty quickly for the American delegation.

When the camera panned to U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, at San Siro Stadium, the reaction wasn’t polite applause. It was loud, undeniable booing. And while the athletes got their cheers, the Vances received an ice-cold reception, even for the Winter Games.

But the story didn’t end in the stadium. It exploded online, fueled by a missing video clip and a scathing critique from tennis legend Martina Navratilova. She wrote on X:

He is so weak. All about the prize- POTUS

For Navratilova, the problem wasn’t just that the crowd disliked Vance’s politics. It was the dynamic between JD and Usha amidst the public backlash. Usha Vance has been the target of horrific, racist commentary online for months. Critics have pointed out that JD Vance hasn’t exactly gone to war to defend her against the worst of it.

This comment struck a nerve. It shifted the conversation from “politician gets booed” to a personal indictment of Vance’s character. Navratilova highlighted a sentiment shared by many critics: that political ambition might be outweighing personal loyalty.

The moment the crowd turned

It happened fast. One minute, the stadium is buzzing with anticipation; the next, Vance’s face is on the Jumbotron, and the mood shifts instantly.

Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova (via X)

The boos were audible enough that people watching at home noticed immediately. It was an awkward, unscripted moment that stripped away the diplomatic polish usually plastered over these events.

Interestingly, if one was watching on NBC later, one might have missed it. The network removed the footage of the Vances being booed from their coverage, which, of course, only made people talk about it more. It’s the classic Streisand effect—try to hide it, and suddenly everyone is hunting for the cell phone clips on X.

Why the hostility?

So, why the hostile reception in Italy? It’s no secret that American politics are polarizing, but this reaction highlights just how deep those divisions run globally. Vance, as a representative of the Trump administration, carries the baggage of their policies on immigration, reproductive rights, and international relations.

Martina Navratilova
Martina Navratilova (via X)

Europe hasn’t exactly been the biggest fan of the current administration’s stance on global issues, and the crowd in Milan took their chance to make that known.

But it’s also personal. The silence Martina Navratilova mentioned—the perceived lack of defense for his wife—feeds into a narrative that Vance is opportunistic. When the viewers combine unpopular policies with personal controversies, they get a stadium full of people ready to voice their displeasure.

NBC might have scrubbed the clip, but the damage control is just beginning. The incident at San Siro is a PR nightmare because it undermines the image of strength and respect that the Vice Presidency usually tries to project abroad.

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