JD Vance was hoping for a quiet family getaway in Vermont. It was supposed to be a few peaceful days of skiing at Sugarbush Resort, far from the chaos of Washington, a brief escape from the pressures of serving as Vice President under Donald Trump. But instead of fresh powder and warm fireside evenings, Vance found himself at the center of a political firestorm, forced to flee to an undisclosed location as an angry mob of protesters swarmed the small town of Waitsfield.
The backlash had been building since the previous day’s Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. What was meant to be a diplomatic discussion over rare earth minerals and security guarantees quickly spiraled into open hostility.
Trump, never one for subtlety, accused Zelensky of “gambling with World War III,” berating him for what he saw as a lack of gratitude for the nearly $183 billion the U.S. had provided in aid since the Russian invasion. Vance, doubling down, called Zelensky disrespectful for “litigating this in front of the American media” and accused him of interfering in U.S. politics by favoring Democrats in 2024. The meeting ended abruptly, the much-anticipated mineral rights deal dead in the water, and Zelensky stormed out of the White House.
JD Vance’s Vermont Ski Trip Turns Chaotic Amid Angry Protests
By the time Vance landed in Vermont that evening, the fallout had already begun. Word of his arrival spread fast, and by Saturday morning, hundreds of protesters lined Route 100 in Waitsfield, waving Ukrainian flags and holding signs branding Vance as a “traitor,” “N*zi s*um,” and “Putin’s puppet.” Some even suggested he should “go ski in Russia.” The protests had been in the works for days, initially organized in opposition to the Trump administration’s federal cuts, but after the Oval Office debacle, they transformed into a full-blown condemnation of Vance himself.
The tension reached a boiling point outside Sugarbush Resort. A small contingent of MAGA supporters attempted to counter the demonstrations, parading down Main Street with Trump flags, leading to shouting matches between the two factions. A handful of protesters even camped out near a ski lift, determined to catch a glimpse of the embattled Vice President. The situation grew so volatile that Vance and his family, who had planned to stay at a four-star inn near the resort, scrapped their plans and were swiftly moved to a secret location.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Waitsfield on Saturday morning to protest Vice President JD Vance, who is visiting Vermont with his family for a ski trip this weekend. pic.twitter.com/gICcSJBU2a
— Vermont Public (@vermontpublic) March 1, 2025
Back in Washington, the political fallout was just as intense. Trump took to Truth Social, blasting Zelensky as “not ready for peace” and accusing him of disrespecting the U.S. in the hallowed Oval Office. Meanwhile, Republican allies like Senator Lindsey Graham defended Vance, praising him for standing up for American interests. On the other hand, critics like former National Security Adviser John Bolton decried the administration’s “shameful” approach, warning that the U.S. was alienating its allies and emboldening Russia.
Zelensky, for his part, wasted no time hitting back. Speaking to Fox News from London, where he had traveled for emergency talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he refused to apologize. “What kind of diplomacy does JD Vance speak of? The kind where Putin gets everything he wants?” he scoffed.
As for Vermont, the protests showed no sign of slowing. Governor Phil Scott, a moderate Republican, had initially urged Vermonters to respect Vance’s family time but later acknowledged that emotions were running high. “This is an issue that people care deeply about,” he told local reporters. “I understand their frustration.”
By Sunday morning, Vance was nowhere to be seen. His office remained tight-lipped about his whereabouts, confirming only that he was safe. Whether he managed to get any skiing in remains unknown, but one thing is certain—what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend in Vermont turned into a political disaster. And with tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine reaching new heights, this was likely only the beginning of an even bigger storm.
