American athletes were warmly welcomed at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony, with cheers filling San Siro stadium as Team USA entered led by speedskater Erin Jackson. However, the atmosphere shifted when Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance appeared on the stadium screens, drawing audible jeers and whistles from the crowd. The reaction highlighted changing attitudes toward the United States among its allies, as recent foreign policy decisions have strained relationships. Similar jeers greeted Israel's delegation, underscoring the politically charged environment at the event. The opening ceremony also featured athlete parades in multiple locations, reflecting the vast geographic scope of these Winter Games.