Skiers at Sugarbush Resort in Vermont on Saturday morning experienced sub-freezing temperatures and snow flurries.
But receiving the chilliest reception, by far, was Vice President JD Vance, who was met by protesters who shouted names and obscenities as the Vance motorcade rolled past. One sign read, “Vance is a traitor. Go ski in Russia.”
Fanning the opposition to Vance’s visit to the Mad River Valley, a day after Vance and President Donald Trump appeared to side with Russia over Ukraine in an Oval Office meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, was Sugerbush snow reporter Lucy Welch.
According to Kottke.org, Welch emailed daily-report subscribers with a morning message criticizing the Trump administration for slashing Forest Service jobs and pointing out that Sugarbush is on National Forest land and threatened by climate change.
“Right now, National Forest lands and National Parks are under direct attack by the current Administration, who is swiftly terminating the positions of dedicated employees who devote their lives to protecting the land we love, and to protecting us while we are enjoying that land,” Welch wrote.
Welch’s email continued: “This Administration also neglects to address the danger, or even the existence of, climate change, the biggest threat to the future of our industry, and the skiing we all so much enjoy here.”
Video clips showing protestors lining the roads and sharing their feelings have been circulating via social media. Some are shown carrying flags as a show of support for Ukraine.
Fox news reported that the presence of protestors was so great that the Vance family was moved “to an “undisclosed location.”
At nearby Mad River Glen, a sign outside informed, “Sorry VP. Sold out.”
Vermont was won by Kamala Harris over Donald Trump by a landslide margin in the 2024 presidential race. So it’s not surprising that some protestors wondered why Vance chose Sugarbush for his family vacation.
Threads user Catsonacouch wrote, “JD Vance choosing Vermont to ski is still so baffling to me: ‘I’d like to go away with the fam for the weekend, I KNOW, I’ll go where LITERALLY everybody hates me.’ “
It was not clear if the Vance family was able to enjoy quality time on the slopes.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: JD Vance and family met by protestors during Vermont ski vacation
