Protests Erupt Following JD Vance’s Controversial Meeting with Zelensky
WASHINGTON DC – After shaking the foundations of the international diplomatic landscape during a heated Oval Office meeting on Friday, Vice President JD Vance had hoped to unwind over the weekend on the picturesque ski slopes of Vermont. However, upon arriving in the charming town of Waitsfield in the Mad River Valley, he and his family were met with a wave of over 1,000 furious protesters.
As the Vice President’s motorcade navigated the streets toward the Sugarbush resort, a cacophony of dissent erupted around them. Demonstrators expressed their outrage over the Trump administration’s aggressive policies, particularly the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, while others brandished signs that read, “JD Vance, go home!”. Supporters of the administration also staged counter-demonstrations, creating a charged atmosphere.
However, it was the significant presence of pro-Ukrainian protesters, riled up by the Vice President and President Donald Trump’s public denouncement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their meeting, that forced a last-minute change to the Second Family’s plans. Their reservation at Sugarbush was abruptly canceled, and they were swiftly whisked away to an undisclosed location.
The fallout from the Oval Office confrontation reverberated across the nation, sparking protests in several cities. Unusually, the security perimeter around the White House was expanded on Friday as Zelensky’s supporters gathered to welcome him upon his arrival. When Zelensky emerged from his motorcade, Trump stood on the White House portico, ready to greet him.
“He’s all dressed up today,” the President remarked sarcastically to the assembled press as Zelensky exited his limousine, foreshadowing the ambush that was to follow.
Now, Zelensky faces the difficult decision of whether he can ever return to Trump’s Oval Office. Following the contentious meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that Zelensky owed Trump an “apology”. However, hours later, Zelensky rebuffed any notion of contrition, stating in an interview with Fox News that he was “not sure we did something bad.”
Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, known as a close advisor to Trump and a figure entrenched in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, went further in his criticism, laying out the administration’s demands. “He either needs to resign and send someone over that we can do business with, or he needs to change,” Graham declared vehemently in front of reporters.
Trump himself deflected a question about whether Zelensky should step down, stating, “I want somebody that’s going to make peace.” Some of Zelensky’s American supporters have lamented that his position is now untenable in the eyes of the Trump administration. One disheartened former official commented to The i Paper, “I say with zero pleasure that the US relationship is irredeemable as long as Zelensky is there.”
Despite this, Zelensky remains resolute and is now bolstered by European leaders who are meeting with him in London. Notably, none of them, including the King, have made any mocking or disparaging remarks about his attire.
Upon arriving in London on Saturday, Zelensky took to social media to emphasize his belief that the United States remains a “strategic partner… but we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals.”
As the backdrop of tumultuous relations unfolds, Zelensky’s insistence on security guarantees from the US has become a central issue. This demand is echoed by both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. On social media, Zelensky articulated thoughts that were interrupted by Trump and Vance during their meeting: “A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine… Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side.”
- Trump’s approach, now evident, has shown a clear personal disdain for Ukraine’s leader.
- He has repeatedly echoed positions favored by President Vladimir Putin, including opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership and territorial concessions to Russia.
- His comments suggest that he would even welcome Putin back into the G7, further complicating diplomatic relations.
Now, it falls upon Starmer and Macron to mend the fractured relationship between the US and Kyiv. Their commitment to developing a peace plan with Zelensky offers a potential opportunity for Trump to claim credit for encouraging Europe to take a more active role in resolving the crisis. However, any proposal presented to Trump may face rejection if it does not include assurances that the US will gain access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and secure financial “compensation” that Trump mistakenly believes is owed to his country.
Meanwhile, in Mad River Valley and across other American towns and cities, the anger among supporters of Ukraine continues to swell, reflecting a growing discontent with the current administration’s handling of international relations.
