Vice President JD Vance was heckled as a “Putin’s puppet” while skiing in Vermont over the weekend, as protesters gathered to voice their anger following his tense confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. Demonstrators accused Vance of siding with Russia, with some calling for him to “go ski in Russia.”
Hundreds of protesters lined the roads near Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vermont, where Vance and his family were staying. Many carried pro-Ukraine signs, while others waved Palestinian flags and banners advocating for immigrant rights. The protests erupted just a day after Vance’s heated exchange with Zelenskyy, during which he accused the Ukrainian leader of failing to acknowledge US financial aid and dismissed concerns about Russia’s trustworthiness.
“Ski Russia because JD Vance has no friends in Vermont, but he’s got lots of friends in Russia, so he should go there for vacation,” Tekla Van Hoven, a protester from Waterbury, told WCAX-TV. Others held placards labelling him a “traitor.”
The protests were planned in advance but intensified following the Oval Office confrontation, which saw Trump and Vance take a hardline stance against continued US support for Ukraine. The meeting reportedly turned into a shouting match, with Trump ultimately cancelling a scheduled lunch and press conference with Zelenskyy.
While a smaller group of Trump and Vance supporters held a “welcome rally,” the anti-Vance sentiment dominated the scene. Vermont’s Republican Governor Phil Scott had urged residents to show respect, stating, “I hope Vermonters remember the vice president is here on a family trip with his young children and, while we may not always agree, we should be respectful.”
Vance’s stance on Ukraine has been controversial for years. As a Senate candidate in 2022, he dismissed US involvement in the conflict, saying he “didn’t care” what happened to Ukraine. His recent argument with Zelenskyy have reinforced his isolationist views, aligning with Trump’s efforts to pursue a diplomatic deal with Russia.
As protests swelled in Vermont, Fox News reported that Vance and his family were moved to an undisclosed location for security reasons. The White House has not commented on the incident.