JD Vance’s 40-car motorcade draws ridicule after navigating narrow Italian streets

US Vice President JD Vance is being mocked online after his large motorcade moved through very narrow streets in Milan, Italy. Many social media users said the motorcade had around 40 cars, while others claimed it included up to 100 vehicles, mostly large Chevy Suburbans. Videos shared on X showed the long line of black SUVs struggling to fit on Milan’s small historic roads. Some users compared Vance to European leaders, saying many prime ministers use bicycles, trains, or normal commercial flights instead.

One viral post said Scandinavian prime ministers bike to work, while Romanian and Moldovan presidents travel like regular passengers. The same post claimed Vance’s visit required 14 planes to transport his security team, staff, vehicles, and supplies to Italy. As per Irish Star, 11 planes were used for staff, security, and former athletes traveling with the delegation. One plane reportedly carried only food supplies for the vice president’s team.

JD Vance motorcade Italy

Two additional planes were reportedly used to transport about 100 armored vehicles for the motorcade. Another user complained that Milan’s streets were blocked and athletes could not reach venues due to traffic caused by Vance’s convoy. Critics also pointed out that Vance often speaks against government waste and powerful elites. The same critics said his security operation appeared to be one of the largest ever for a US vice president.


During the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Italy, Vance and his wife Usha were loudly booed when shown on the big screen. Videos of the crowd booing the vice president quickly spread across social media platforms. Vance traveled to Italy as part of a weeklong visit that mixes sports events and diplomatic meetings.

Vance meets Giorgia Meloni

On Friday, Vance met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is seen as a close ally of the Trump administration in Europe. The meeting happened just as Italy announced it would not join President Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace.”Italian officials said the decision was due to constitutional limits. The move was described as another setback for Trump’s international peace initiative. Vance’s visit comes during tense relations between the US and Europe under President Donald Trump.

Analysts say Trump has disrupted long-standing US foreign policy rules that existed since World War II. Earlier in the day, Vance attended the team figure skating competition at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. He was joined by his family and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the event. Later that evening, Vance attended the official Olympics opening ceremony. Vance also traveled to the Prefettura di Milano, a historic palace now used as a government building, as noted by AP. His face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Meloni lasted about one hour. The meeting was followed by a private, closed-door lunch.

FAQs

Q1. Why was JD Vance criticized during his Italy visit?

He was criticized for using a very large motorcade and heavy security in Milan.

Q2. Why was JD Vance booed at the Olympics ceremony?

He was booed by the crowd when his image appeared on the big screen.