Vance, Rubio to Lead U.S. Delegation to 2026 Winter Olympics Opening in Italy
The White House has announced that Vice President JD Vance will lead the official U.S. delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and attend the Feb. 6 opening ceremony, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second lady Usha Vance, U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta and several American Olympic gold medalists joining him. President Donald Trump is not listed as part of the delegation, meaning the U.S. will be represented at the ceremony by his vice president and top diplomat rather than by the president himself. The Milan Cortina Games will stage a historic multi-site Parade of Nations, with flagbearers and athletes appearing not only in Milan’s San Siro stadium but also in the mountain venues of Cortina, Predazzo and Livigno. The athlete delegates named so far include 2018 women’s hockey gold medalists Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, 2010 men’s figure skating champion Evan Lysacek and two-time short track gold medalist Apolo Ohno. The composition of the delegation and Trump’s absence will be read in diplomatic circles and at home as a signal of how the administration is calibrating its visibility and priorities on the global stage heading into a contentious election-cycle year.
📌 Key Facts
- Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics and attend the Feb. 6 opening ceremony in Italy.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second lady Usha Vance and U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta are among the senior officials in the delegation.
- President Donald Trump is not listed as a member of the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremony.
- Olympians Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Monique Lamoureux-Morando, Evan Lysacek and Apolo Ohno will join as athlete delegates.
- The Parade of Nations will, for the first time, be split among Milan’s San Siro stadium and three mountain venues: Cortina, Predazzo and Livigno.
📊 Relevant Data
No U.S. president has ever attended the opening ceremony of a Winter Olympics held outside the United States; presidents typically only attend when the Games are hosted in the U.S.
U.S. Presidents and the Olympic & Paralympic Games — USOPMuseum
Between 2017 and 2024, Black Americans were fatally shot by police at a higher rate than White Americans, with rates of approximately 30 per million for Black individuals compared to 12 per million for White individuals.
People shot to death by U.S. police 2017-2024, by race — Statista
In 2020, Black individuals accounted for 36.2% of arrests for violent crimes in the United States, while representing approximately 13% of the population.
Arrests by offense, age, and race — Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Assaults on ICE law enforcement officers increased by 1,347% from January 21, 2025, to January 7, 2026, compared to the equivalent period in the prior administration, according to DHS data.
Radical Rhetoric by Sanctuary Politicians Leads to an Unprecedented 1,300% Increase in Assaults Against ICE Officers — Department of Homeland Security
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