Newsom Blasts Trump and Vance After Olympic Crowd Boos U.S. Delegation

California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly criticized President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance after an uncomfortable moment on the global stage at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan, where a large crowd booed and jeered as the U.S. delegation entered and Vice President Vance appeared on the stadium screen. The boos were widely shared on social media and became a talking point among critics of the Trump administration, who saw the reaction as emblematic of broader diplomatic strains and declining international perceptions of the United States.

In response to the viral crowd reaction and its online fallout, Newsom’s press office posted a statement on social media asserting that “Donald Trump and J.D. Vance have RUINED America’s reputation on the global stage” and that the country is “now BOOED and LAUGHED at by the world.” This vivid critique tapped into wider political discourse about U.S. foreign policy and leadership, with opponents of the Trump‑Vance administration arguing that controversial domestic and international positions have contributed to a loss of respect abroad.

Supporters of Trump and Vance dismissed such comments as political grandstanding and argued that a few boos at a sporting event are not a meaningful reflection of U.S. standing globally, pointing instead to continued economic and diplomatic influence. Meanwhile, analysts noted that international opinion of the United States has been impacted by contentious policies and rhetoric over recent years — though opinions vary widely by region and issue area — making the debate over global reputation both heated and multifaceted.