The DJ for the USA's ice hockey opener at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics played a song commonly associated with Donald Trump following on from anti-ICE protests in Milan.
The opening ceremony for the event takes place at the San Siro on Friday, with Team USA boasting a huge presence in the form of 237 athletes competing in 16 disciplines.
Trump is not slated to be in attendance but his vice president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio are, having been present at the US women’s hockey team’s first match against the Czech Republic at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.
Along with second lady Usha and Tilman Fertitta, US ambassador to Italy and owner of Houston Rockets NBA franchise, the group - flanked by a strong secret service presence - watched from the second and third rows.
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Their attendance comes after strong protests against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) being in operation at the event following the recent killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by agents in Minneapolis.
At the preliminary round ice hockey game between the US and Czech Republic, no national anthems were played. But as per The Guardian, there was a reference to the Trump administration as just minutes prior to the action, the DJ played a techno remix of the Village People's 'YMCA'.
The song became the anthem for Trump's campaign and saw the president dance to the tune at various rallies. The Village People then performed it for Trump at the 2026 World Cup draw in December.
Vance celebrated the US' 5-1 victory with his family, having earlier spoke with members of the US freestyle skiing team.
In a message to those representing the US, Vance told a group of the athletes: "The whole country – Democrat, Republican, Independent – we’re all rooting for you. We’re cheering for you, and we know you’re going to make us proud.”
Milan's mayor Beppe Sala slammed ICE as “a militia that kills” and IOC president Kirsty Coventry was asked about the possibility of US athletes being booed by fans at the opening ceremony and is calling for respect to be shown.
“I hope that the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as an opportunity to be respectful," she said, as per The Independent.
"When we went to the [athletes’] village, that is just the best reminder of how we all should be, because you see athletes from every walk of life.
"No-one’s asking what country they come from, what religion, they’re all just hanging out, and it was so cool to see, and a real opportunity to put into perspective what we could be. I hope the Opening Ceremony will be a reminder of what we could be."
Coventry, a former Olympian, also said that the Games ought to be "a place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments".
Josh Lawless