‘European pride’: Kallas responds to boos for JD Vance during Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Italy

Crowds at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan booed US Vice President JD Vance as a display of European pride, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Euronews on Feb. 9.Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance drew loud jeers when they appeared on the stadium's giant screen at San Siro during the opening ceremony, briefly waving US flags. The reaction came amid growing transatlantic tensions over Washington's rhetoric towards Europe.Asked about the incident, Kallas connected it to recent US comments targeting the EU."Well, I guess we have heard a lot of not-so-nice words from the United States regarding Europe," she said.

"Of course, our public also has a pride — a European pride. So it shows."

Vance repeatedly criticised the EU, most notably during a speech at the Munich Security Conference last year, where he questioned whether the US and Europe still shared a common vision of democracy.He also criticised EU efforts to counter disinformation, arguing they limited free speech.Kallas' remarks came ahead of this year's Munich Security Conference, scheduled for February 13–15, where Vance was not expected to attend. The conference took place as relations between Washington and European capitals remained strained.Tensions intensified following US President Donald Trump's threats to seize Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, and comments suggesting he could use military force.