Vice President JD Vance and his family were forced to relocate to a “secure location” after hundreds of pro-Ukraine demonstrators converged on the Vermont ski resort they were visiting. This incident occurred just days after a public confrontation between Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
While vacationing at Sugarbush Resort in Waitsfield, Vance and his family were confronted by a large group of angry demonstrators lining the snowy streets. The protesters’ presence was so overwhelming that the Vances were compelled to cut their four-day getaway short, disturbed by the intensity of the protests.
The protesters held signs that branded Vance as a “national disgrace,” accused him of being a “traitor,” and even suggested that the family should “go ski in Russia.”
One sign read, “Have you no shame? Support Ukraine.”
On the other side, counter-protesters also made their presence felt. Pickup trucks sporting “Make America Great Again” flags drove through Waitsfield’s Main Street. Another group of counter-protesters clashed verbally with the anti-Vance demonstrators outside the resort.
In the wake of the protests, Vance and his family abandoned their plans to stay at a nearby upscale inn and instead fled to a “secure location,” following the escalating tensions outside the resort.
The protests became so intense that a small group of demonstrators even stationed themselves by a ski lift, attempting to intercept the Vances, assuming they would be skiing in the area.
Although the protests had been planned earlier, they gained significant momentum after the heated exchange between Vance and Zelensky during the Oval Office meeting, in which the Ukrainian leader had an intense dispute with both Vance and President Trump. This confrontation occurred while Zelensky was in Washington to finalize a mineral rights agreement, which was ultimately called off, and reports indicated that Zelensky was quickly escorted out of the White House.
Earlier last week, Vermont Republican Governor Phil Scott appealed to protesters to remember that Vance was visiting Vermont with his family.
“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 remarked in a statement on Thursday. “Please join me in welcoming them to Vermont, and hoping they have an opportunity to experience what makes our state, and Vermonters, so special.”
Initially, the protesters were mobilized to express opposition to the Trump administration’s cuts to federal programs.
“We’re scared about losing Social Security or Medicaid or parks or having measles epidemics or climate change,” protest organizer Ginny Sassaman from the Indivisible Calais group told VT Digger.
“As a trans person and as a person of color, I’m extremely concerned about the new policies about trans people. I’m concerned about the ICE raids. I have friends who are trans. I have friends who are immigrants who’ve been reaching out to me and saying ‘we’re scared,’” organizer Katayoun Lam explained to VT Digger.
During the Oval Office meeting with Zelensky, Vance did not hold back, confronting the Ukrainian leader in front of international media. He criticized Zelensky for not showing proper gratitude for the U.S. support for Ukraine.
“Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media,” Vance told Zelensky. “Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
{Matzav.com}