Protesters in the United States lined a road in Vermont that Vice President JD Vance was set to travel on, following a tense exchange between him, President Donald Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Demonstrators held pro-Ukraine signs along the route in Waitsfield, where Vance and his family had planned a skiing trip. However, due to the mounting protests, US media reported that the family relocated to an undisclosed location instead of their original ski resort.
The protests in Vermont were part of a broader wave of demonstrations across major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Boston, where hundreds of people expressed their support for Ukraine. The unrest followed a dramatic confrontation in the Oval Office, where Vance accused Zelensky of disrespecting the US. President Trump intensified the exchange, pressuring Zelensky to negotiate a settlement with Russia, warning, “Make a deal with Russia, or we are out,” and accusing him of “gambling with World War Three.”
Vermont Protests and Political Reactions
The protest in Waitsfield had been planned prior to the White House clash, but many demonstrators used the event to highlight their frustration with the Trump-Vance administration’s stance on Ukraine.
“The events at the White House seemed to have motivated even more people to join the protest today,” remarked a representative from Indivisible Mad River Valley, the group responsible for organizing the demonstration, in an interview with Vermont Public Radio.
Cori Giroux, another protester, remarked, “[Vance] crossed the line,” referring to his comments during the White House confrontation.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a Republican who has distanced himself from Trump, called for respect toward the vice president and his family. “I welcome the vice president and his family to Vermont and hope they enjoy their weekend here,” he stated. Acknowledging the region’s winter tourism boom, he added, “It’s no surprise they chose Vermont. We’ve had a lot of snow this winter, which has been good for our economy.”
Wider Backlash Against Trump-Vance Policies
Beyond the Ukraine issue, additional protests took place outside Tesla stores across the US, targeting billionaire Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration. Musk, who has been appointed by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (widely referred to as “Doge”), has been at the forefront of efforts to slash government spending. Demonstrators accused him of prioritizing corporate interests over public welfare.
Meanwhile, after the contentious White House meeting, Zelensky traveled to the UK, where he met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. On Sunday, he joined European leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in London for a high-level summit to strategize on ending the war in Ukraine and strengthening European security.
