Former ESPN star Sarah Spain has shared her unsettling experience of sitting near Vice President JD Vance at the Winter Olympics. On her podcast, the journalist recounted feeling “ill” while next to the VP during a hockey match between Team USA and Switzerland, explaining how Secret Service agents ruined her experience.
This incident took place during the opening ceremony in San Siro earlier this month, where Vance and his wife Usha were spotted waving American flags.
Cameras captured the moment, but the reception was far from warm — Vance faced boos, and CNN commentators described the atmosphere as a blend of jeers and applause.
One commentator remarked: “There is Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha – oops, those are not … uh … that’s a lot of boos for him. Whistling, jeering, some applause.”
Former ESPN journalist Sarah Spain expressed that she felt “ill” sitting next to JD Vance.
Spain, who hosts the well-known podcast Good Game With Sarah Spain, mentioned she was only 20 meters away from Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as they lingered after the ceremony to watch the US women’s hockey team compete against the Czech Republic.
On her podcast, Good Game, she reflected: “Twelve minutes into the first period, that area suddenly filled with large men in suits with earpieces. And here comes JD Vance carrying a child and a bunch of security, followed by Marco Rubio.”
She added a striking detail that’s likely to raise eyebrows: “When I see JD Vance’s eyeliner face, I literally feel ill, like a basilisk had looked you in the eye and death was awaiting you on the other side.”
“I said, ‘I feel like I just looked at a demon,’ like the devil, and I don’t even believe in that,” Spain continued, expressing her discomfort.
“I don’t even believe in that, but my body reacted as if I had been startled, with a little shiver that felt like, ‘ooh, something’s off.’ That’s how my body felt. And I was definitely not ready to see him.
“It made me so angry,” The US team triumphed 5-0 over the Swiss. However, Sarah Spain didn’t catch all of it. She expressed her frustration about the Secret Service agents obstructing her view.
“It made me so angry,” she went on. “Not just because those f Secret Service agents were blocking half the ice… like, we’re here to watch a hockey game. You ruined it.”
JD Vance headed the US delegation at the Olympic opening ceremony last week.
He chatted with members of Team USA before the games, stating, “I hope you take it all in. I hope you win as many medals as you can, but most importantly, I hope you enjoy the experience. The entire country — Democrat, Republican, Independent — we’re all behind you, cheering for you, and we know you’re going to make us proud,” Vance remarked.
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