Vance Under Fire for Taxpayer-Funded Olympic Trip as Motorcade Chaos Almost Costs Skater Gold

Vice President JD Vance is facing mounting criticism over the cost and disruption of his taxpayer-funded trip to the Winter Olympics in Milan, after revelations that his massive motorcade nearly prevented American figure skater Alysa Liu from competing for gold.

The controversy, which has sparked outrage on social media and drawn rebukes from government watchdog groups, centers on what critics describe as an extravagant security and logistics operation that prioritized political optics over athletic competition—all paid for by American taxpayers.

### The Motorcade That Almost Cost a Medal

The incident that ignited the firestorm occurred on Friday, when Liu—along with her coach Phillip DiGuglielmo and choreographer—found themselves trapped on an Olympic bus blocked from accessing the Milano Skating Arena .

The obstruction? Vice President Vance’s motorcade.

“We almost didn’t make it,” DiGuglielmo told The Washington Post following the close call . Liu managed to arrive just in time to don her costume and take the ice, ultimately securing second place behind Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto. But the near-miss has raised serious questions about the scale of the vice presidential security operation in a foreign city.

The motorcade, described by witnesses as comprising dozens of Chevy Suburbans, struggled to navigate Milan’s narrow, historic streets—streets not designed for the kind of sprawling security footprint that accompanies American VIPs abroad . Video footage shared on X showed the lengthy procession crawling through the city, prompting immediate backlash.

“The American mind cannot comprehend a walkable city,” one commenter wrote . Another asked simply: “Why are we so obnoxious everywhere we go?”

### The Price Tag Question

But the disruption to Olympic athletes is only part of the story. Critics have zeroed in on the cost of the operation itself—expenses borne entirely by U.S. taxpayers.

Social media posts circulating during Vance’s trip alleged that the vice president’s entourage included a fleet of 14 aircraft and a motorcade of 100 vehicles navigating tightly secured streets . The posts further claimed that 11 planes were carrying delegation members, staff, former athletes, and security personnel, while one aircraft was dedicated solely to food supplies. Two additional planes reportedly transported armored vehicles across the Atlantic .

The vice president’s office has vehemently denied the most eye-catching of these allegations. A spokesperson told The Mirror US that reports of “a plane full of food for the Vice President” were “ridiculous and categorically false” . The spokesperson emphasized that Vance and his family “ate food provided at official events, their hotel, and at local restaurants during their visit” .

However, the denial did not address the broader question of the trip’s overall cost. The confirmed elements—dozens of motorcade vehicles, extensive security personnel, and the logistical challenge of moving a vice presidential party across the Atlantic—represent a significant expenditure of public funds.

Government watchdog groups have seized on the episode as a textbook example of wasteful spending. References to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Elon Musk-headed initiative ostensibly dedicated to cutting federal waste, proliferated on social media . One X user directly called on the administration to “stop this waste, abuse and fraud” .

### Booed in Milan

The optics of the trip were further complicated by the reception Vance received from the Olympic crowd. The vice president was booed during the opening ceremony while standing with his wife, Usha Vance, holding an American flag . The jeers were audible enough to become a story in themselves, with some speculating about coordinated protests and others attributing the reaction to European dissatisfaction with American foreign policy.

NBC, the network broadcasting the games, later issued a statement addressing what it termed a “conspiracy theory” regarding the booing, though the network confirmed the negative reaction was genuine .

### Security Context

The trip unfolded against a backdrop of heightened concern for Vance’s personal security. Just weeks before the Olympic visit, a Secret Service agent assigned to Vance’s detail was suspended after allegedly leaking sensitive information about the vice president’s movements and travel plans .

Agent Tomas Escotto was placed on administrative leave following the release of hidden-camera footage by conservative activist James O’Keefe, which purportedly showed Escotto sharing details of Vance’s security protocols with a woman he believed to be a romantic interest . The incident prompted the Secret Service to order all personnel to retake anti-espionage training .

Additionally, Vance’s private residence in Ohio was broken into last month by a man who used hammers to smash windows. The suspect, 26-year-old William Defoor, has been ordered to remain in custody and undergo psychiatric evaluation .

These security concerns explain—at least in part—the extensive protective footprint that accompanied Vance to Milan. The Secret Service does not scale back its operations based on location, and threats to American officials abroad are taken seriously. However, critics argue that the scale of the operation exceeded reasonable security requirements.

### The Double Standard Question

For many observers, the Vance controversy echoes similar criticisms leveled at previous administrations—but with an ironic twist. The Trump-Vance administration has made cutting government waste a central pillar of its domestic agenda, with Musk’s DOGE initiative publicly targeting expenditures deemed excessive or unnecessary.

“Why does DOGE exist if we’re still doing this?” asked one social media user, encapsulating the sentiment of those who see hypocrisy in the situation .

The White House has not commented directly on the cost questions, and Vance’s office has declined to provide detailed expenditure breakdowns. Standard practice allows vice presidential trips to bundle security, transportation, and logistical costs under classified or protected headings, making precise accounting difficult for the public.

### Impact on Athletes

Beyond the financial questions, the near-disruption of Liu’s competition has struck a particular chord with Americans following the Olympics. Figure skating is a sport of precision and timing; missing a warm-up window or arriving rushed can affect performance at the highest levels.

Liu’s coach did not mince words about the stakes. “We almost didn’t make it,” he repeated to multiple outlets . The fact that Liu went on to medal has not alleviated concerns—if anything, it has highlighted what might have been lost had the motorcade caused a few minutes’ more delay.

### Looking Ahead

As the Winter Olympics continue in Milan-Cortina, Vance is expected to attend additional events and participate in diplomatic engagements. Whether the backlash will affect his schedule or the administration’s approach to future travel remains unclear.

For government accountability groups, however, the episode has provided fresh ammunition in the ongoing battle over federal spending. With DOGE theoretically positioned to target such expenditures, the question becomes whether the administration will apply its efficiency standards to itself.

The vice president’s office has not responded to requests for comment on the specific cost of the Olympic trip. But as one X user put it, capturing the sentiment of many watching from home: “Our skaters almost missed their short program because of this douche” .