English town erupts as JD Vance’s holiday sparks fierce protests

Charlbury Protesters Voice Their Opposition to Vice President JD Vance

Local Activists Rally in the Cotswolds to Demand “Go Home” for the U.S. Official

On Tuesday, a small group of residents and activists converged on the idyllic village of Charlbury, a quiet hamlet in the heart of the Cotswolds. Hundreds of people gathered to express their disapproval of Vice President Jacob D Vance, who was on holiday with his family in the southern countryside of England.

Key Demands Highlighted by the Protestors

• “Go Home” – A direct call for Vance to leave the village.
• “Not Welcome Party” – A statement asserting the village’s refusal to allow the Vice President’s presence.
• Sod Off – A blunt refusal to accommodate the U.S. official.

Security Measures and Their Impact on the Village

Police from the United Kingdom and U.S. security detail deployed in the normally serene routes leading to Charlbury. Some roads and footpaths were blocked, creating a disruption in the tourist‑friendly region.

Statements from the Protestors

Co‑organiser Jake Atkinson from the Stop Trump Coalition addressed the crowd, stating that the anger was directed at policies promulgated by former U.S. President Donald Trump. “The people of the Cotswolds are out here today telling JD Vance that he is not welcome here,” Atkinson told AFP at the gathering.

Atkinson also mentioned that the anti‑Trump coalition will stand in opposition to the U.S. President on the state visit scheduled for September.

Incidents Earlier That Day

A black van bearing a satirical image of Vance — edited to look bald and bloated — passed through the quaint cottages and winding streets of Charlbury. Meanwhile, 75‑year‑old resident Lou Johnson stated he wanted to “extend the same welcome” that Vance offered to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on February 8.

Vance’s Travel Schedule

• Vance began his British holiday by visiting U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the Chevening estate in Kent.
• He is slated to visit Scotland, where President Trump recently spent five days at his golf resorts.

Reactions from Local Residents

Phil Ball, 53, a local cameraman, expressed surprise at the heavy security around Dean, where Vance was staying. “If somebody’s just in the Cotswolds on holiday… you wouldn’t imagine they’d need a 20‑car motorcade and all the roads to the entire village,” he said.

Artist Victoria Dawson from neighboring Witney noted that locals were protesting “against somebody who we think is immoral… who is doing terrible damage around the world along with Trump.” “Because JD Vance is here, suddenly roads are closed everywhere, there are police everywhere, it’s not what we expect or accept,” she said.

Lou Johnson added that the heightened security “has been invading everywhere” in the rural area he has called home for 50 years. “People think it’s just a gentle little village but every now and then we do stand up for what we believe in,” he remarked.