Vice President JD Vance and his family were forced to evacuate to an undisclosed location while on a ski trip at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont, after a large group of protesters gathered near their vacation rental.
The demonstrators, waving Ukrainian flags and transgender pride flags, were angered by Vance’s stance on U.S. support for Ukraine and his tense Oval Office exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Pro-Ukraine protesters, armed with Ukraine flags and transgender pride flags, gathered in Vermont where JD Vance and his family were vacationing. It’s always the same people. pic.twitter.com/pjrWekzah2
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 1, 2025
The protest followed remarks Vance made during a heated meeting at the White House, where he confronted Zelensky over his demands for continued U.S. military aid. “Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” Vance asked the Ukrainian leader.
.@VP: "Do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?"@POTUS: "You don't have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards … You're… pic.twitter.com/iTYyAmfuCJ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 28, 2025
As news of Vance’s ski trip spread, demonstrators gathered outside his vacation rental, accusing him of being a traitor and siding with Russia. Signs in the crowd labeled him “Nazi scum” and demanded that he “go ski in Russia.” Other banners read, “Trump serves Putin,” “Theocracy is not freedom,” and “Stand with Ukraine.”
Fox News reported that hundreds of protesters lined up along the road leading to the resort, forming a half-mile-long gauntlet to confront the vice president. The growing intensity of the demonstration led security officials to relocate Vance and his family to an undisclosed location.
Initially, Vance attempted to continue his vacation by moving to the other side of the mountain, but the protesters followed, determined to disrupt his trip. The crowd continued chanting and waving signs, forcing the vice president and his family to withdraw entirely.
Sources told Fox News that Vance and his family had planned to stay at a four-star inn near the resort but decided to leave after witnessing the size and hostility of the protest.
The incident highlights the increasing polarization surrounding U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding support for Ukraine. Vance, a vocal critic of continued blank-check funding for the war, has argued that American resources should be prioritized for domestic needs rather than prolonging an overseas conflict.
The White House has since reaffirmed its position that further military and financial assistance to Ukraine will be withheld unless Zelensky is willing to negotiate a peace deal.
Despite the disruption, Vance has remained steadfast in his position, defending his exchange with Zelensky and emphasizing the need for a more strategic and measured approach to U.S. foreign aid. The protests, however, underscore the fierce opposition he faces from pro-Ukraine advocates and left-wing activists.
This latest event marks another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over America’s role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, further solidifying Vance’s status as a divisive figure on the issue.