Crowds gathered in Waitsfield, Vermont, on Saturday to voice their discontent with Vice President JD Vance's visit to a local ski resort. The protest occurred just one day after a heated confrontation between Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. This confrontation has drawn significant attention, prompting activists to organize demonstrations against Vance's administration.
The protest, orchestrated by the Mad River Valley chapter of the activist group Indivisible, aimed to "protest the destructive and illegal actions of the Trump/Vance administration." Protesters lined a main thoroughfare near the Sugarbush Resort, where Vance was vacationing with his family. As they waved signs with messages such as "Vance is a traitor go ski in Russia" and "Stand with Ukraine," the demonstrators expressed their outrage over recent political events.
The timing of the protest coincided with a tense meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House. The Ukrainian president's visit was intended to finalize a deal granting the U.S. access to rare earth minerals in Ukraine, part of broader efforts to alleviate the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. However, the meeting devolved into a shouting match, with Trump warning Zelenskyy that he was "gambling with World War III" if he failed to secure a peace deal.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott extended a welcome to Vance and his family ahead of their trip, underscoring the state's political diversity. Despite the governor's statement, the protests reflected a significant segment of public sentiment against the vice president's policies and actions.
The protests also included messages condemning Trump's administration, with signs reading "Trump serves Putin" and "Vance disgraces our country." The demonstrators' passionate display underscored the heightened tensions surrounding U.S. foreign policy and domestic politics.
Vance's team did not immediately respond to inquiries from CNBC regarding the protests or the circumstances surrounding his visit. The ongoing challenges in Ukraine have continued to provoke strong reactions from various groups within the United States, illustrating the deep divisions in public opinion on foreign policy matters.