Former ESPN star Sarah Spain has opened up about her unsettling experience sitting near Vice President JD Vance at the Winter Olympics. On her podcast, the journalist recalled feeling “ill” while seated close to the VP during a hockey game between Team USA and Switzerland, and how Secret Service agents ruined her experience.
The incident occurred during the opening ceremony at San Siro earlier this month, where Vance and his wife Usha were seen waving American flags.
Cameras captured the moment, but the reaction wasn’t exactly warm — Vance was met with boos, and CNN commentators described the scene as a mix of jeers and applause.
One commentator said: “There is the vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha — oops, those are not … uh … those are a lot of boos for him. Whistling, jeering, some applause.”
Former ESPN journalist Sarah Spain says she felt “ill” sitting next to JD Vance
Spain, who hosts the popular podcast Good Game With Sarah Spain, said she was only about 20 meters away from Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as they stayed behind after the ceremony to watch the U.S. women’s hockey team face the Czech Republic.
Speaking on her podcast, she recalled: “Twelve minutes into the first period, that area suddenly is awash with large men in suits with earpieces. And here comes JD Vance carrying a child and a bunch of security, and eventually Marco Rubio.”
She added a vivid detail that’s sure 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. “But my body felt like when you’ve been spooked, and you have a little tingle that feels like, ‘ooh, something’s not right.’ That’s what my body felt like. And I was in no way prepared to see him.”
“It made me so angry”
The U.S. team won 5–0 against the Swiss. However, Sarah Spain didn’t see it all. She said she was furious that Secret Service agents blocked her view.
“It made me so angry,” she said. “Not just because his f****** Secret Service were blocking half the ice… like, we’re trying to watch a hockey game. You ruined it.”
JD Vance led the U.S. delegation at the Olympic opening ceremony last week.
He spoke with members of Team USA ahead of the games, saying, “I hope you just soak it all in. I hope you win as many medals as possible, but most of all, I just hope you enjoy the experience. The whole country — Democrat, Republican, Independent — we’re all rooting for you, and we’re cheering for you, and we know you’re going to make us proud.”
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