Vice President JD Vance faced significant backlash during a family ski trip to Vermont’s Sugarbush Resort, where hundreds of protesters gathered to condemn his stance on Ukraine following a heated Oval Office exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The demonstrations highlighted deep political divisions over U.S. foreign policy.
### Incident Overview
Protesters lined roadways and resort entrances, brandishing signs such as , , and , while chanting accusations that Vance is a [2][3][5]. The protests intensified after Vance clashed with Zelenskyy over a proposed mineral rights deal and Ukraine’s reliance on U.S. aid[3][5].
### Escalation After Oval Office Clash
The confrontation stemmed from Vance’s criticism of Zelenskyy during a White House meeting, where he admonished the Ukrainian leader for not expressing gratitude to the U.S. and President Trump. Vance argued that Ukraine’s manpower shortages justified Trump’s push for a peace deal involving concessions to Russia[3][6]. Protesters viewed these remarks as undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty[2][4].
### Vance’s Response
To avoid crowds, Vance and his family initially skied on a secluded part of the mountain but later relocated to an after demonstrators tracked their movements[3][4]. Sugarbush Resort confirmed protests were peaceful but declined further comment[5].
### Mixed Local Reactions
While many Vermonters joined the protests, some locals criticized the demonstrations. One skier called protesters , arguing that Vance deserved privacy during a family trip[3][5]. A smaller group organized a pro-Vance rally, praising his decision to visit a predominantly Democratic state[5].
The incident underscores ongoing tensions over U.S.-Ukraine relations and Vance’s alignment with Trump’s foreign policy agenda.
