JD Vance faces 'icy' reception as family arrives for Vermont skiing vacation
JD Vance receives an icy welcome as his family arrives for a Vermont skiing vacation. Discover the details of the chilly reception and reactions from locals.
Skiers at Sugarbush Resort in Vermont were met with snow flurries and sub-zero temperatures on Saturday morning, but the coldest reception was reserved for Vice President JD Vance.
As Vance's motorcade made its way through the area, protesters shouted insults and displayed signs, with one reading, "Vance is a traitor. Go ski in Russia." The protests come after Vance and President Donald Trump's comments regarding Russia and Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Lucy Welch and local opposition to Vance’s visit
The protests against Vance’s visit were fueled by a local snow reporter, Lucy Welch. Welch sent an email to Sugarbush's daily-report subscribers, criticizing the Trump administration’s cuts to Forest Service jobs and pointing out that Sugarbush Resort is located on National Forest land, which is under threat from climate change. She also highlighted the administration’s disregard for climate change, which she called the “biggest threat” to the ski industry’s future.
In her email, Welch expressed concern that the administration’s actions were putting the land and the safety of skiers at risk, adding to the growing opposition in the area.
Protesters show support for Ukraine at Sugarbush Resort
As Vance arrived at the resort for his family’s ski vacation, a group of protesters gathered, waving flags and holding signs in support of Ukraine. The protest was spurred by Vance's recent political stance, and the demonstrators made their presence felt. The protest was so significant that, according to reports, the Vance family had to be moved to an undisclosed location for their safety.
Vermont’s political landscape and Vance’s vacation choice
Vermont, a state that strongly supported Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in the 2024 election, is known for its liberal leanings, and the protests against Vance reflected this. Locals questioned why the vice president chose to vacation in Sugarbush, given the strong opposition to his political views in the state