Pro-Ukraine protests across US after Trump-Zelensky clash
Pro-Ukraine protests have taken place across the US after Donald Trump and JD Vance’s angry exchange with Volodymr Zelensky at the White House.
Hundreds of people gathered in New York, Los Angeles and Boston to express their support for Ukraine after the furious row in the Oval Office.
Protesters holding pro-Ukraine signs also lined a road in Waitsfield, Vermont, where Vice-President Vance and his family were visiting for a ski holiday.
US media reported the family moved to an undisclosed location from their planned ski resort because of the demonstrations.
A protest in Waitsfield against the Trump-Vance administration had been organised earlier in the week – before the US president and vice-president’s clash with Zelensky – but many signs referenced the row and Russia’s war with Ukraine.
“I think [Friday’s] performance at the White House has probably galvanised even more people to come out today,” Judy Daly, from Indivisible Mad River Valley, the group which organised the protest, told Vermont Public Radio.
“[Vance] crossed the line,” protester Cori Giroux added.
Ahead of the Vance family’s trip, Vermont’s governor Phil Scott had urged people to “be respectful” to them.
Scott, the Republican governor who refused to vote for Trump, said: “I welcome the vice-president and his family to Vermont and hope they enjoy their weekend here.
“It’s no surprise they chose Vermont, we’ve had a lot of snow this winter, which has been good for our economy.”
He added: “I hope Vermonters remember the vice-president is here on a family trip with his young children and, while we may not always agree, we should be respectful.
“Please join me in welcoming them to Vermont, and hoping they have an opportunity to experience what makes our state, and Vermonters, so special.”
Vance, who has three young children with his wife Usha, has not publicly commented on the protests. Counter-protesters supporting Trump and Vance were also reportedly in Waitsfield.
Demonstrators also gathered outside Tesla stores across the US on Saturday to protest against Elon Musk’s push to slash government spending.
Musk, the billionaire chief executive of Tesla, has been tasked by US President Trump to oversee the Department of Government Efficiency, more popularly known as Doge.
In extraordinary scenes in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump clashed with the Ukrainian president, telling him to make a deal with Russia “or we are out”.
At one point, Trump told Zelensky he was not thankful enough for US military and political support during Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion, and that he was “gambling with World War Three”.
Vance also accused the Ukrainian president of being disrespectful and “litigating” the situation in front of the media.
Zelensky will join European leaders on Sunday for a summit on the Ukraine war, hosted by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Ahead of the meeting in London, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves signed a loan agreement worth £2.26bn ($2.84bn) with her Ukrainian counterpart, to pay for further military support and the rebuilding of Ukraine in future.
