As the Vice-President’s motorcade attempted to navigate its way to the Sugarbush resort, tensions flared as opponents of the Trump administration voiced their anger. Some protesters focused on the administration’s aggressive deportation policies targeting illegal immigrants, while others brandished signs with messages like “JDV go home.” Meanwhile, supporters of the Trump administration organized counter-demonstrations, creating a charged atmosphere.
However, it was the unexpected presence of hundreds of pro-Ukrainian protesters that ultimately disrupted the Vice-President’s weekend plans. These demonstrators were galvanized by the public humiliation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his meeting with Vice-President Vance and President Donald Trump just days earlier. The backlash was so intense that the Second Family’s reservation at Sugarbush was abruptly canceled, and they were swiftly relocated to an undisclosed location.
The fallout from Friday’s televised confrontation between Trump and Zelensky reverberated across the country, sparking protests in multiple cities. In an unusual move, the security perimeter around the White House was expanded on Friday as Zelensky’s supporters gathered ahead of his arrival. When Zelensky stepped out of his motorcade, Trump was waiting at the White House portico to greet him. “He’s all dressed up today,” Trump quipped sarcastically to the press, a remark that, in hindsight, foreshadowed the ambush that awaited the Ukrainian leader.
Now, Zelensky faces a critical decision: whether or when he can return to the Oval Office under Trump’s administration. Following the meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that Zelensky owed Trump an apology for his actions. However, Zelensky refused to back down, telling Fox News hours later that he was “not sure we did something bad.”
The situation escalated further when Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, issued a stark ultimatum: “He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.” Trump, for his part, avoided directly addressing whether Zelensky should step down, instead telling reporters, “I want somebody that’s going to make peace.”
Even some of Zelensky’s prominent U.S. supporters now believe his relationship with the Trump administration is beyond repair. “I say with zero pleasure that the U.S. relationship is irredeemable as long as Zelensky is there,” a former top official lamented.
“There’s zero chance of saving anything with him still in power.” Zelensky, however, remains defiant and has found support among European leaders, who are meeting him in London. Notably, none of these leaders, nor the King, have made any sarcastic or dismissive remarks about his appearance.
Upon arriving in London on Saturday, Zelensky took to social media to reaffirm his commitment to the U.S. as a “strategic partner,” but emphasized the need for honesty and direct communication to achieve shared goals. Beyond Trump’s personal disdain for Zelensky, the core issue straining their relationship is Ukraine’s demand for U.S.-backed security guarantees in any peace agreement—a position supported by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. On social media, Zelensky articulated points he was unable to fully express during his meeting with Trump and Vance.
He criticized the minerals agreement, through which Trump has demanded repayment of $350 billion in alleged U.S. aid to Ukraine, stating that it was “not enough…we need more than just that.” He also stressed that “a ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine…Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side.”
Yet, it is increasingly clear that America is no longer aligned with Ukraine. Trump’s claim that he wants to mediate between Kyiv and the Kremlin has been undermined by his repeated endorsement of positions favored by Russian President Vladimir Putin. These include opposing Ukraine’s NATO membership, advocating for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia, and even suggesting that Putin should be reinstated in the G7. Each of these stances serves as a concession to the Kremlin, offered by Trump without any dialogue between the aggressor and the aggrieved. The rift between the U.S. and Ukraine continues to deepen, leaving Zelensky and his nation in a precarious position.
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