Latest news with #Vances
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Catching up with the Americans, including a vice president, in the Cotswolds
One of the best-known transplants, DeGeneres, told a crowd in Cheltenham recently that 'everything here is just better,' a comment the British press seized upon gleefully, as if the former talk show host had just endorsed the National Health Service or milky tea. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up She and her wife, Portia de Rossi, had originally planned to divide their time between the United States and Britain, but after Donald Trump won a second presidential term, they decided: 'We're staying here.' Advertisement The couple's first property, a 43-acre estate called Kitesbridge, is on the market for 22.5 million pounds ($30.3 million). They've since moved to a larger estate nearby that can better accommodate their horses, a problem that is rather specific to this postcode. The Cotswolds, however, hasn't exactly turned out to be a refuge from US politics. Sheep in The Cotswolds, where Ellen DeGeneres has made a home and Kourtney Kardashian recently called a 'dreamy storybook fairy tale." Victoria Abbott Riccardi The Vances — JD, wife Usha, and their three children — are staying at a six-acre property near Charlbury that, according to the Daily Telegraph, has a tennis court, a basement gym, and a Georgian orangery. British media has closely tracked JD Vance's movements in the area. The Daily Mail published a video of his motorcade allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road. Advertisement The visit follows a similarly pastoral outing last week when the Vances went fishing at the country residence of British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. That excursion, too, turned a bit scaly when it became clear the pair apparently broke British law by dropping the hooks without a fishing license, a violation that can carry a fine of up to $3,500. Lammy retroactively paid for the licenses Monday, blaming the misstep on an 'administrative oversight.' On Wednesday morning, Vance met with Nigel Farage, the leader of the insurgent, anti-immigrant party Reform UK. Vance's notable Cotswold neighbors include Jeremy Clarkson, the journalist and television presenter who, in a Times of London column, called Vance a vulgar word and said he 'also has no clue about history.' (Vance denied that a remark he made about some 'random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years' was aimed at Britain and France, but many here took offense.) Other critics held a 'Vance not welcome party' in Charlbury on Tuesday. The organizers, from the Stop Trump Coalition, insisted it wasn't a protest, but they intended to 'dance against Vance!' Visiting Charlbury from New York for a friend's 40th birthday, Josephine Roth, 29, said the area felt 'very different from US countryside. It's quaint and beautiful.' She nodded toward the street, lined with honey-stone buildings and so quiet you could hear the birds. Advertisement Roth added that she wasn't sure she had much in common with the local celebrities. On hearing that the Vances were nearby, she laughed. 'It makes me want to leave,' she said. Vice President JD Vance addresses US troops and their families in front of a Lockheed U-2 nicknamed the 'Dragon Lady' during a visit to RAF Fairford on Wednesday. The visit comes as Vance and his family are spending part of their summer vacation in nearby Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds. Leon Neal/Getty For the tourism industry and real estate brokers, though, the American market is gold. Helen Whitfield, of the Cotswold property agency Butler Sherborn, said she has seen a surge in first-time American buyers in the past two months. Motivations include politics back home and relatively lower British university fees, Whitfield said. The homes they want are 'very traditional Cotswolds, often older than modern America,' she said, and typically in 'untouched, highly protected villages.' Americans, she added, 'have far more passion for the history than the Brits do.' But even if they want a 300-year-old English cottage, they also want the comforts of a Napa Valley show home, such as underfloor heating and electric, rather than oil-fired, Aga cookstoves. The arrival of exclusive member clubs, such as Soho Farmhouse, has helped to cement the appeal for the elite, she said. Sally Graff of Cotswolds Tourism said US visitors are its largest overseas market. The region's beauty, history, and idyllic rural life are a major draw. It's the kind of place where you can pop into a 'quaint' pub, pay $50 for a meat pie and a pint, and find yourself bending elbows next to the Beckhams. While the storybook image of the Cotswolds is readily available to the super-rich, life is less Instagram-ready for others. There are pockets of poverty, seasonal jobs that disappear after summer, and locals priced out by rising housing costs. Tourism can strain daily life. Some villages are pushing back. Bibury, 'the most beautiful village in England,' according to the artist William Morris, has recently imposed parking restrictions on tour buses. Home to just 600 residents, the village can easily get 10 times that number of visitors on a summer day, upending the quiet that many come seeking in the first place. Advertisement Attendees posed with placards at a "Vance not welcome party", organized by Stop Trump Coalition supporters and local residents in Charlbury, west of London, on Tuesday, as Vance takes his vacation in the English countryside. DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images The village noticeboard recently advertised a talk on sustainable church flowers, an art exhibition and, in true Cotswolds fashion, a sprawling philosophical treatise on birdsong. Tourists, however, seemed unmoved by the big questions of avian existence, preferring instead to photograph Arlington Row, often called the most photographed row of cottages in the country. Tour guide Robert Gunning, leading a three-village excursion, said 70 percent of his clients were American. 'Somebody said to me today, 'I just want to get away from all the noise in America. It's just Trump, Trump, Trump. I just wanted peace,'' Gunning said.
Evening Standard
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Evening Standard
JD Vance is here: let's make him welcome
Seriously, holiday diplomacy is a crucial exercise of soft power. It's influence through hospitality, congenial intellectual company and impressive historical cachet – it's nice to know that the Vances will be visiting Hampton Court, because Cardinal Wolsey and Henry VIII can't fail to please. Think what Emmanuel Macron would do if he could get the Vances to visit France; he is the master of grand and ostentatious hospitality, notably with President Trump. And which do you think influences people more: the stupid Trump baby balloon over London that the Mayor sanctioned during the Trump visit, or the president's visit to Windsor Castle? One approach is people venting their spleen; the other is actual engagement. Of course, people can protest about the visit as much as they like, and obviously, there are areas where the Trump administration's view of the world – notably in respect of tariffs and Israeli policy towards Gaza – is very different from the British and I have no doubt that David Lammy will be making that clear. But if you want to influence people, you're better off engaging with them. So, like I say, keep the Vice President away from Ellen DeGeneres. She's the kind of person he's here to get away from.
Straits Times
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
US military raised water level of river in Ohio for JD Vance's family boating trip
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US Vice-President JD Vance had not been aware of a request made to alter the water flow into the Little Miami River on Aug 2. WASHINGTON – Military engineers raised the levels of a river in Ohio so the Secret Service could provide security to Vice-President JD Vance during a family boating trip, agency officials said on Aug 7. Ms Taylor Van Kirk , a spokesperson for Mr Vance, said the vice-president had not been aware the request had been made to alter the water flow into the Little Miami River on Aug 2. The Vances took the boat excursion on the vice-president's 41st birthday. 'The Secret Service often employs protective measures without the knowledge of the vice-president or his staff, as was the case last weekend,' Mr Van Kirk said. Ohio Democrats and others criticised the trip after The Guardian reported that river levels were raised for it. Mr Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesperson, said that for security reasons, the agency asked the US Army Corps of Engineers to temporarily increase water flow from Caesar Creek Lake, which is connected to the river. The boats used by the Secret Service for security or an emergency evacuation are usually motorized and need deeper waters to operate, he said. Smaller boats like the ones the Vances were using, such as kayaks and canoes, can operate in shallower waters. Mr Guglielmi also said that the Secret Service and local public safety officials conducted a scouting mission before the excursion. During that time, one of the local public safety boats ran aground, an indication that the water level was too low for that vessel. In 1999, as he campaigned for president, Vice-President Al Gore faced questions after a local utility poured millions of gallons of water into the drought-stricken Connecticut River, to keep Gore from running aground. Mr Eugene Pawlik, a spokesperson for the Army Corps, said changes to water outflows are a 'recurring process' throughout the year depending on the weather and other factors. 'The Secret Service request did not fall outside our normal operating parameters,' he said. Mr Pawlik added that no waivers were needed, and that the outflow change did not have an adverse effect on downstream or upstream water levels. NYTIMES
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
JD Vance's India visit: Exploring Akshardham, Taj Mahal, Amer Fort, and more, full itinerary revealed
JD Vance, the vice president of the U.S. is currently in India. He is visiting the country for the first time with his wife Usha and three kids. The highlights of his four-day travel itinerary include a trip to Delhi's Akshardham, the Taj Mahal in Agra and Amer Fort in Jaipur. Vance landed in Delhi on April 21 and visited Akshardham Temple with his family. Dressed in beautiful traditional Indian attire, Vance's three kids, named Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel were in awe of the beauty of the temple. Soon after, he shared a message, "Thank you so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids in particular loved it. God bless". Another highlight of their Delhi visit also included a visit to the crafts emporium in Janpath, where they bought tea bags, honey, and pottery items. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like News For Jack Nicholson, 87, He Has Been Confirmed To Be... Reportingly Undo On April 22, the Vance-family reached Jaipur to explore the grand Amer Fort. The family was greeted by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari at the fort, where a grand cultural reception awaited them. As they entered the main courtyard, Jaleb Chowk, two decorated female elephants named Chanda and Mala, greeted them with raised trunks, adding a majestic touch to the whole ceremony. Soon after, the Vances were then treated to a colourful cultural performance, which included traditional folk dances such as Kacchi Ghodi, Ghoomar, and Kalbeliya, offering them a delightful glimpse into the rich and colorful culture of Rajasthan. While speaking in Jaipur, Vance shared that children are often bluntly honest, whether we want them to be or not. He went on to say, "There are only two world leaders with whom I've seen my children form a close bond. The first is President Trump—there's something about his energy. The second is Prime Minister Modi. I observed my children having that same connection with Prime Minister Modi." There's no doubt that since the beginning of his visit to India, Vance's kids have been the spotlight. Whether it's their charming demeanor or their traditional Indian attire, they have been the center of attention over the past two days. Vance expressed his heartfelt admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praising his leadership and describing how both he and his family were deeply moved by Modi's welcome and his kindness. As per the itinerary, Vances will visit Agra on April 23. They plan to visit the iconic Taj Mahal, as well as Shilpgram, a market renowned for its Indian art and crafts. They will leave for the U.S. on April 24.
NDTV
22-04-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Opinion: What Has JD Vance's India Visit Achieved?
Apart from the minor detail that the US is India's largest trading partner, there's this critical matter of matrimony. The second lady of the US, Usha Vance, is of Telugu descent and like a good girl from a good family, she's prevailed on her husband to be his charming self and visit the 'in-laws'. And that's precisely what he's doing. It is quite likely that the visiting Vances may achieve more for the North-South unity in India than any well-intentioned political action ever will. After all, despite Mrs Vance's roots in Andhra Pradesh and the presence of extended family in the southern state, the Vance family has only the northern delights on their itinerary. However, it must be said that April is not the best time to go sightseeing in Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. But when you are busy and important, you indulge in brutal rationing of your travel time. Only the most critical items on the to-do list get checked. Visiting the Taj Mahal is important. As is the visit to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, the official residence of the Indian Prime Minister. Whether the tariff talk happened between the US Vice President and PM Narendra Modi, the visit is already a success, as reported by the former's office. In fact, talking business would be off-colour in a milieu where the PM of the largest democracy of the world becomes a congenial grandfather figure to the three little Vances. Until there's an expected unexpected bombshell of an announcement from the White House around bilateral trade, this familial interaction will become the leitmotif for the two countries' relationship. Just like the enthusiastic hugs between President Barack Obama and PM Modi. PM Modi has redefined India's foreign policy by making personal gestures a part of the plan. The decorated swing at Ahmedabad for Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit, bear hugs with the French President Emmanuel Macaron, and the immortal Team Melodi moment with the Italian PM Georgia Meloni are some of the examples of PM Modi's on-brand personalisation of geopolitics. Whether these gestures have translated into the gains that India hopes for is a contested matter. After all, the Galwan standoff happened within a few months of the Modi-Xi summit in Mahabalipuram in October 2019. It can be successfully argued that PM Modi's show of bonhomie with the world leaders is aimed primarily at domestic consumption. One of the biggest reasons cited by voters election after election is PM Modi raising India's profile on the world stage. But if anyone thinks that the optics of the present visit are only furthering PM Modi's reputational agenda, they'd be missing a critical point. With the rise of Indian Americans' political profile in the US, both Democrats and Republicans actively wooed the community. While the presidential candidate of the Democratic party, Kamala Harris, invoked her Indian mother, the Republican campaign matched it by highlighting the vice presidential candidate's Indian American wife. There is no evidence yet whether the 'desi' card worked for either but not playing it would have meant ceding some political ground. And when you have a card, you better use it whenever you can. Some predictability in Indo-US relations amidst unpredictable While House The Vance entourage is also accompanied by Ricky Gill, Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the US National Security Council. Gill served as the director for Russia and European Energy Security at the NSC during the first Trump presidency. He was also a senior advisor in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. During the Biden presidency, Gill advocated against Nord Stream 2, a 1,234-kilometre-long natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, which allegedly aligns Russia's interests with China's ambitions in the region, with the German port of Mukran being the site of the handshake. After a successful sabotage in 2022, there is talk of its revival, with a potential US ownership. This move will be an example of the US's attempts at decoupling Russia and China. Trump administration sees China as the prime adversary. The recent trade tariffs have exemplified this attitude. Washington DC deems New Delhi as its most important ally in the region to check Beijing. While Vance put the charm on, Gill is expected to have done the work that's needed to not just iron out the trade wrinkles between India and the US but also towards the Trump administration's contain-China policy. But how much can New Delhi give to the US-India partnership without rattling Beijing in its neighbourhood? The unpredictability of policy decisions made in the White House also merits a cautious approach on India's part. There is no win that a US ally can claim that is not susceptible to being overturned without warning. The only win that India can reasonably hope for is that the Vice President and his family can prevail on the POTUS to stop publicly calling India a "tariff abuser" and "tariff king" till some resolution on that front is reached.
