WARREN, Vt. (WCAX) – The towns of Waitsfield and Warren packed with people today. Many came out to welcome Vice President JD Vance and his family to Vermont, but others showed up in protest.
“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 of Waterbury said.
“Well we were in the area vacationing, and we just felt like we wanted to give our support to the Vice President and the President,” Joe Fagan of Pennsylvania said.
When Joe Fagan heard that the Vice President was in Vermont at the same time he came to visit, he just couldn’t help but go to the center of Waitsfield, and try to catch a glimpse of Vance heading through town.
“They can support, or go against Trump and Vance, and that is great. I can support him. I think this is great, this is democracy,” Fagan said.
“I’m a federal employee, I watched eleven of our federal public servants get illegally fired. It’s all due to the complacency of this jerk,” Matt, a current federal employee said.
JD Vance had plans to ski at Sugarbush Resort this weekend with his wife and two kids.
As he made his way to the mountain, several grassroot organizations and groups of people took to the streets of Waitsfield to protest his presence.
Meanwhile in Warren, even more people making their message known to the administration.
“I am a seventh generation Vermonter. It is quite an honor, he could have picked any state. He is putting us on the national stage, which is fantastic,” Sherilyn of Northfield said.
And at the mountain, Secret Service vehicles and personnel could be seen stationed throughout the resort.
Skiers say, it was exciting to ski the same mountain with the Vice President.
“It is awesome. I hope I get to see him. I hear his kids are in ski school,” Susan Green of Warren said.
“I think it is totally fine. If JD Vance wants to go skiing anywhere he wants, that great. Come to Vermont. But people have a right, a first amendment right to free assembly, free speech,” Paula Emery of Plainfield said.
