Second Lady Usha Vance led the US delegation at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy this weekend. She entered the arena holding the hand of her 7-year-old son. As politicians and organizers addressed the crowd, they emphasized the message of the Games: “Inclusion.” This contrasted with past comments made by Vance’s husband, Vice President JD Vance, who has been a vocal critic of DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion).
In 2024, then-Senator Vance led the Republican charge on the “Dismantle DEI Act,” calling DEI “a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division.”
The Special Olympics’ mission to “end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities” also came into sharp contrast with derogatory terms President Donald Trump has used for individuals with intellectual challenges. Vance has never publicly disapproved of such language. The Special Olympics, founded in 1968, have always championed diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The atmosphere at the event seemed to suggest a targeted message to Vance, perhaps hoping to change her perspective. Six possible moments from the ceremony appeared to directly troll the second lady:
1. A band wore jackets spelling out “kindness,” possibly responding to Melania Trump’s “I really don’t care, do U?” jacket.
2.
Vance trolled at Special Olympics
A diverse dance troupe performed, emphasizing global unity.
3. The Games’ Local Organizing Committee President wore a hot pink dress, reminiscent of the Democratic Women’s Caucus at Trump’s joint session of Congress address. 4.
A closed captioning error turned “Usha Vance” into “Miss Lucia Vance,” later corrected to “Miss Usha Van.”
5. A speech emphasized spreading “education and inclusion,” challenging the administration’s efforts to cut funding for global education programs for children with disabilities. 6.
Timothy Shriver called for dignity for all athletes, subtly addressing the administration’s stance on disability rights. It’s unclear if Vance was affected by the ceremony’s message. She was not featured again on camera and may have left the arena early, possibly sparing herself and her son from the continued emphasis on “sowing seeds of love” and creating “a fair society.”