LONDON — US senator JD Vance received a distinctly English welcome as he, his family and a sizable security detail rolled through Charlbury this week, though not the kind the public figure would have hoped for.
Bathed in sunshine, dozens of demonstrators sipped tea, nibbled cake featuring a meme of Vance’s face, and waved humorous placards just as the Vances vacationed about 100 miles west of London. A handmade sign mocked his Netflix password as “password,” while another suggested he “claps when the plane lands,” a reference to a BBC/UK conversation about certain British crowd quirks. Other placards recalled comments Vance had made about senior Democrats in Congress, which resurfaced during the last presidential cycle. A protester wore a satirical mask of President Donald Trump as well.
In nearby Chipping Norton, locals said they were surprised by how the security arrangements disrupted traffic on already-tight local roads. Design manager Geoff Holliday, 51, said he was “getting bored” with the closures and joked that he’d rather see the motorcade slowed by “a disgruntled farmer and a combine harvester” than by security blocks.
The Cotswolds—rolling hills and meadows rising from the upper River Thames—have long attracted visitors and a wealthier resident crowd. The area around Chipping Norton is associated with the so-called “Chipping Norton set,” a constellation of political and media figures that has drawn attention for years, including former Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, as well as Rupert Murdoch’s daughter Elizabeth Murdoch and, more recently, Ellen DeGeneres. Nearby, former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington sits under a no-fly zone, a constraint he highlighted on Instagram in what he joked was a caption about drone shots and light aircraft.
Clarkson later posted a peaceful Cotswolds scene after the day’s disruptions. He also commented on the “JD Vance no-fly zone,” poking fun at the media-savvy run of the day.
Editors’ note: The article describes JD Vance as a vice president. In reality, Vance is a U.S. senator. The piece reflects the events as reported, and readers should be aware of the distinction.
Summary and takeaways:
– A high-profile U.S. political figure toured a rural English village, drawing local attention and lighthearted protests.
– The day highlighted the mix of local charm, celebrity culture, and political commentary that characterizes this part of the Cotswolds.
– The incident offered a peek into how American political figures are perceived and discussed abroad, with locals balancing security realities against everyday life.
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