Vice President JD Vance finds himself at the center of controversy after pro-Ukraine protesters allegedly harassed him while he was walking with his three-year-old daughter. The unsettling encounter has sparked debate about boundaries for political demonstrations, especially when children are present.
At a glance:
• JD Vance claims pro-Ukraine protesters followed and shouted at him while he was with his 3-year-old daughter
• Vance reported his daughter became “increasingly anxious and scared” during the confrontation
• Video footage shows protesters chanting about Ukraine casualties and accusing the Trump administration of betrayal
• One protester disputed Vance’s account, claiming no one was chasing him
• The incident followed a tense White House meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky
Confrontation Caught on Camera
Vice President JD Vance took to social media platform X on Saturday to describe a disturbing encounter with pro-Ukrainian protesters who allegedly followed him and his young daughter. The confrontation, captured on video, shows Vance attempting to engage with demonstrators while expressing concern for his child’s wellbeing.
Either JD Vance's Secret Service detail epically failed him (and his daughter), and he threw them under the bus by tweeting about the whole thing, or he's a pathological liar. I would put money on it being the latter. https://t.co/T18rIcgo9y
— Teri (@WomenInTheBurbs) March 9, 2025
“Today while walking my 3 year old daughter a group of ‘Slava Ukraini’ protesters followed us around and shouted as my daughter grew increasingly anxious and scared,” Vance wrote on X. The incident reportedly took place near his residence in Cincinnati, adding another layer of personal intrusion to the already heated political climate.
Disputed Accounts of the Incident
Video footage of the incident shows Vance engaging with several protesters in what appears to be a residential area. In the footage, demonstrators can be heard chanting about casualties in Ukraine and accusing the Trump administration of betraying Ukrainians in their fight against Russian aggression.
One protester, identified as Ann Henry, disputed Vance’s characterization of events, claiming that no one was chasing the Vice President. Meanwhile, Vance can be heard in the video attempting to maintain civility while expressing concern for his daughter, stating, “Ma’am, I am with my 3-year-old daughter now, and I told you, I would talk to you for five minutes.”
“Russia certainly invaded Ukraine in 2022, but there needs to be a settlement,” Vance told the protesters as one woman began to shout over him. The Vice President has long maintained a skeptical position on continued U.S. financial support for Ukraine, calling for diplomatic solutions rather than prolonged military funding.
Political Context Behind the Confrontation
The confrontation comes shortly after a tense White House meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During that exchange, President Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War III” and showing disrespect to the United States.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Vance proposed a peace plan that would require Ukraine to remain outside NATO and cede some territory to Russia. This position has made him a target for supporters of Ukraine who advocate for continued American military support to repel Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory.
This isn’t the first time Vance has faced public protests while with family members. Reports indicate he was also heckled by demonstrators during a family ski trip in Vermont, highlighting the increasingly personal nature of political confrontations in America’s polarized landscape.
