Waitsfield, Vermont| Vice President JD Vance’s family vacation to Vermont was met with strong opposition from protesters angered by his role in a heated Oval Office confrontation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Demonstrators lined Route 100 near the Sugarbush ski resort on Saturday, waving Ukrainian flags and holding signs condemning Vance’s conduct, with one particularly pointed message reading: “Vance is a traitor – go ski in Russia.”
The protests erupted in response to an unprecedented public clash that unfolded at the White House on Friday.
What was expected to be a routine press briefing with Trump and Zelenskyy quickly escalated into a fiery exchange, with Vance aggressively criticizing the Ukrainian leader.
Witnesses described the scene as a rare public spectacle, with Trump and Vance berating Zelenskyy over U.S. military aid and Ukraine’s ongoing war effort.
Vance accused the wartime leader of disrespecting the United States, while Trump echoed his vice president’s sentiments, questioning continued American support for Kyiv.
The exchange sparked swift condemnation from international leaders and U.S. political figures alike, but in Vermont, frustration over Vance’s role in the confrontation was especially palpable.
Protesters in Waitsfield chanted anti-Russian slogans and called out Vance for what they saw as an overly aggressive stance against Zelenskyy.
Local Voices Condemn Vance’s Visit
Among those protesting was Tekla Van Hoven of Waterbury, who told WCAX-TV:
“Ski Russia, because JD Vance has no friends in Vermont, but he’s got lots of friends in Russia, so he should go there for vacation.”
The discontent extended beyond foreign policy concerns. Some demonstrators used the occasion to highlight what they perceive as the administration’s neglect of climate change and environmental protection.
One employee at Sugarbush Resort, Lucy Welch, expressed frustration over the administration’s treatment of national parks and environmental workers.
“Right now, National Forest lands and National Parks are under direct attack by the current administration, which is swiftly terminating the positions of dedicated employees who devote their lives to protecting the land we love,” Welch wrote in a post on the resort’s website.
“This administration also neglects to address the danger, or even the existence of, climate change—the biggest threat to the future of our industry and the skiing we all enjoy here.”
John Bleh, a spokesperson for Sugarbush Resort, confirmed that the protests remained peaceful but declined to comment further.
Vermont Officials Call for Civility Amid Political Tensions
In the days leading up to Vance’s visit, Vermont’s Republican Governor Phil Scott issued a statement urging residents to respect the vice president’s private trip.
“I hope Vermonters remember the vice president is here on a family trip with his young children, and while we may not always agree, we should be respectful,” Scott said in his statement.
Despite this plea, the strong emotions surrounding Vance’s involvement in the Oval Office dispute were on full display.
A Divisive Political Moment
While the confrontation with Zelenskyy was widely criticized abroad, it was celebrated in some Republican circles.
MAGA-aligned members of Congress and conservative commentators applauded Trump and Vance’s hardline stance, framing it as a reaffirmation of their “America First” foreign policy approach.
Some lawmakers even used the incident as justification for scaling back or eliminating U.S. aid to Ukraine.
For critics, however, the moment underscored concerns about the administration’s shifting stance toward Kyiv.
The public berating of a wartime ally, combined with Vance’s perceived antagonism, further fueled speculation about the administration’s commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.
As Vance’s Vermont vacation continues, the fallout from Friday’s Oval Office clash shows no signs of subsiding, with protests serving as a visible reminder of the deep political divisions shaping America’s foreign policy and domestic discourse.
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