Hundreds Protest Vice President JD Vance in Vermont After Tense White House Meeting
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Waitsfield, Vermont, on Saturday to rally against Vice President JD Vance, who was visiting the town with his family for a ski trip. The protest came on the heels of a contentious meeting at the White House the day before, where Vance and President Donald Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during what was intended to be a diplomatic discussion. The tense exchange, which drew widespread attention, centered on U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and potential security assurances for the war-torn nation. Instead of progress, the meeting devolved into open confrontation, with Trump and Vance criticizing Zelensky for what they perceived as a lack of gratitude for American support in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Protesters in Vermont expressed their outrage over the White House meeting, holding signs and waving Ukrainian flags in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Judy Daly of Indivisible Mad River Valley, a grassroots organization advocating for democracy, emphasized the group’s long-standing support for Ukraine and how Friday’s events had galvanized even more people to join the protest. "This is a group of people who has always been supportive of standing with Ukraine," Daly said. "However, I think yesterday’s performance at the White House has probably galvanized even more people to come out today."
The protest highlighted the strong feelings many Americans have about the U.S.-Ukraine relationship and the role the Trump administration has played in shaping it. Since taking office, Trump has adopted a sharply critical tone toward Zelensky, labeling him a "dictator," falsely claiming that Ukraine started the war, and baselessly suggesting that Zelensky is deeply unpopular in his own country. These claims have been widely debunked, and many Democrats, international leaders, and even some Trump supporters have criticized the president’s approach to the conflict.
What Happened in the White House Meeting?
The Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vance, and Zelensky on Friday was marked by open antagonism, a rare sight in a space typically reserved for diplomacy. Trump pressed Zelensky to agree to a deal that would secure U.S. interests in Ukraine’s valuable rare earth minerals and to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the war on Trump’s terms. The meeting quickly turned contentious, with Trump and Vance chastising Zelensky for what they saw as his lack of appreciation for American aid.
At one point, Trump accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War III" and criticized him for being ungrateful for U.S. support. Vance, a vocal skeptic of continued U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, told Zelensky that diplomacy was the path to peace. Zelensky responded by pointing to Russia’s repeated violations of ceasefire agreements, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin had killed Ukrainian civilians and refused to exchange prisoners. "What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about?" Zelensky asked. "What do you mean?"
The exchange grew more heated when Vance pushed back, suggesting that Zelensky was being disrespectful by airing his grievances in front of the American media. "I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country," Vance said. Tensions boiled over when Trump raised his voice at Zelensky, accusing him of disrespecting the United States and acting ungratefully for the aid Ukraine had received. The meeting ended without a resolution, and a scheduled press conference was canceled. Zelensky left the White House early, and the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations remains uncertain.
What People Are Saying
The fallout from the White House meeting has sparked a wave of reactions from across the political spectrum. Protesters in Vermont made their displeasure clear, with one demonstrator, Cori Giroux, saying, "After what he [Vance] did yesterday, he crossed the line." Another protester, Ginny Sassaman, added, "Then after the meeting yesterday with Zelensky, I mean I feel like all of America should be out here protesting."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump and Vance, writing on X (formerly Twitter) that the pair were "standing up for the American people." However, critics of the administration, including former national security adviser John Bolton, were quick to condemn Trump’s handling of the situation. Bolton wrote that Trump had "put the U.S. on the wrong side of the Russia-Ukraine war" and warned that the president’s actions were making it increasingly difficult to unite the West.
Trump himself took to Truth Social to share his version of events, claiming that Zelensky was "not ready for Peace" and had disrespected the United States. He also suggested that Zelensky was leveraging American involvement in negotiations for an advantage. "I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE," Trump wrote. Zelensky, however, struck a different tone in his own post on X, thanking America for its support and reiterating Ukraine’s commitment to achieving "just and lasting peace."
The Broader Context and What Happens Next
The U.S. has been Ukraine’s most critical ally since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in early 2022. According to the Kiel Institute, a German-based think tank, the U.S. has spent just under $120 billion on Ukraine between early 2022 and December 2024. The Defense Department estimates that total support for the war effort, including military training in Europe and the replenishment of U.S. defense stockpiles, is nearly $183 billion.
Despite this significant investment, Trump’s approach to Ukraine has been increasingly at odds with the bipartisan consensus that previously defined U.S. policy under the Biden administration. Trump’s critics argue that his actions are undermining Ukraine’s chances of success in the war and damaging America’s reputation as a reliable ally. Meanwhile, Zelensky is seeking to shore up support from other allies, as he traveled to the United Kingdom on Saturday for talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The canceled press conference following the White House meeting has left many questioning the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations. With tensions running high and no clear path forward, the world will be watching closely to see how the Trump administration navigates this critical moment in international diplomacy.
