‘Go ski in Russia’: Protesters target Vance holiday, Tesla showrooms after clash with Zelensky

Protesters targeting US Vice President J.D. Vance and billionaire Elon Musk spread across the United States at the weekend following Donald Trump’s bitter row with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.

Demonstrators at resorts in Vermont told Vance to “go ski in Russia” after he publicly castigated Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday.

Protesters rally in Vermont, where US Vice President J.D. Vance had planned to ski with his family.Credit: X/@SonnyVermont

The protests were followed by demonstrations against Musk outside Tesla dealerships across the country.

In Vermont, they held signs reading “Vance = Putin’s pawn = traitor” and “Vermont stands with Ukraine”. Some protesters included drawings of Nazi swastikas, while many also waved Ukrainian flags.

Observers of the meltdown in the Oval Office have pointed the finger at Vance for setting the tone, before Trump appeared to back him in attacking Zelensky.

“After what he did yesterday, he crossed the line,” protester Cori Giroux told Vermont Public Radio.

Protesters in Vermont.Credit: X/SonnyVermont

In the extraordinary shouting match in the White House, the US president and Vance told Zelensky to make a deal with Russia “or we are out”. They said the Ukraine president was not thankful enough for US support and accused him of being disrespectful.

Vance has not commented on the protests but reportedly moved his family holiday to an unknown location.

The protest had been planned earlier in the week, before the public scolding of Zelensky, but many signs referred to Friday’s row.

“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 that organised the protest – told Vermont Public Radio.

Demonstrators also gathered in New York, Los Angeles and Boston, and outside Tesla stores, rallying against CEO Musk.

The protests were ostensibly aimed at Musk’s efforts to slash US government spending, but there were some pro-Ukraine demonstrators among the crowds.

Hundreds of people outside a New York City Tesla dealership on Saturday held signs reading “Burn a Tesla: Save Democracy” and “No Dictators in the USA”. Nine people were arrested.

Demonstrators take part in a protest against Elon Musk outside a Tesla showroom in New York.Credit: AP

Musk, the world’s richest person, is leading an unprecedented push to shrink the federal government that has resulted in the firing of tens of thousands of employees and the termination of hundreds of aid contracts and federal leases.

In some cases, federal agencies have been forced to try to hire back key workers who had been fired, including some responsible for US nuclear weapons, scientists trying to fight a worsening outbreak of bird flu and officials responsible for supplying electricity.

At least 100,000 of the 2.3 million federal employees have agreed to buy-outs or have been sacked since Trump took office on January 20.

Hundreds of pro-Ukraine protesters also gathered in Times Square in New York. In Los Angeles, demonstrators rallied outside a SpaceX facility, another company owned by Musk.

A demonstrator stands inside a Tesla showroom, next to a smashed door, during a protest against Elon Musk.Credit: AP

Meanwhile, dozens of climate-change protesters occupied a Tesla showroom in London’s Westfield shopping centre on Saturday.

Members of Climate Resistance claimed Trump’s ally “has built his empire through ruthless exploitation, union busting, and dangerous working conditions”.

About 20 protesters stormed into the shop and sat on the ground as they chanted, “Hey hey, ho ho, Elon Musk has got to go”, for 25 minutes.

In European capitals, crowds rallied to support Ukraine, including in Britain, where people lined the streets as Zelensky arrived at No.10 Downing Street.

Trump’s approval rating in the US has dipped slightly to 44 per cent since taking office.

A sketch from Saturday Night Live mocked Musk and Trump. Mike Myers, 61, the Austin Powers star, made a cameo on the US comedy show playing the Tesla billionaire.

Dressed as Musk, he enters the Oval Office with a chainsaw and says, “Donald, what are you doing in my office? You know I’m the president now, right? I’m kidding, I’m kidding, maybe not.

“Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. You’ve got to make a joke, you know.

“Legalise comedy, legalise comedy, come on legalise it!” he shouts.

The Telegraph, London

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