Vice President Mike Pence Credit: R. Gino Santa Maria/Shutterfree via Dreamstime

Update, 5:53 p.m.: President Donald Trump told reporters Thursday afternoon that he would skip a weekend trip to Poland and would send Vice President Mike Pence in his stead. But according to Gene Richards, director of aviation at BTV, his staff contacted the U.S. Secret Service around 4:45 p.m. and was told that Friday’s plan was still a go.

Vice President Mike Pence is returning to Vermont for Labor Day weekend.

The nation’s No. 2 executive is expected to land at Burlington International Airport around 2 p.m. Friday, BTV aviation director Gene Richards said. The aircraft, which Richards said will probably not be the large jet traditionally thought of as Air Force Two, is expected to taxi to one of the Vermont Air National Guard ramps.

The airfield will be closed for 15 minutes before and after arrival, the aviation director wrote in a note to staff. The Federal Aviation Administration has instituted temporary flight restrictions at BTV from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Friday.

“It’s midday; it’s not really a big deal,” Richards said, noting that it could potentially affect a few commercial flights. “It’s the right time of the day. If he’d come real early in the morning, I’d have a real problem with him.”

During Labor Day weekend last year, Pence landed at BTV in Air Force Two and was greeted by both protesters and supporters before he spent the weekend on Lake Hortonia, which is south of Sudbury and north of Hubbardton on Route 30. Locals posted pictures with the VP during his visit, which included a stop at Calvin Coolidge’s summer White House in Plymouth Notch.

The FAA has instituted flight restrictions this weekend above an area that encompasses Lake Hortonia, though it’s unclear if Pence is headed back there. His office did not respond to an email seeking comment about the trip.

Richards said Pence won’t depart from BTV. The FAA has instituted flight restrictions at the Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Air Force Two at Burlington International Airport last year Credit: File: Taylor Dobbs

 

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Sasha Goldstein is Seven Days' deputy news editor.

19 replies on “Vice President Mike Pence to Return to Vermont”

  1. Whatever ones thoughts are about someone we disagree with politically, Vermonters should never simply declare someone not welcome here. That attitude only sinks us all into a level of contempt that reasonable people should have no tolerance for. It also deprives us of the opportunity to have civil debate. Vermont has a lot to offer to those who visit here. Personally I hope the Vice President feels welcome here and takes the time to experience our values.

  3. Yup you all thought obama and losing his mind biden is so great!! obama came here and cost Vermonters thousands of $$$, and never reimbursed Vermont . He said his campaign will send a ck.. guess what do you hear the crickets??? I loved it when Vermont was a great place to live and a Republican state.. Now people are leaving the state. The 3 bald government officials don’t have time for true Vermonters , their pockets/bank accounts are more important.. Vermont is more interested in being like CA and NY. Trump has done a lot for this country and will be reelected for President of the United States. 20/20 Sanders and Biden don’t have a chance !!!

  4. Just nuke the Hurricane before it hits Florida, then Pencey-poo can still come to VT. Everyone but VT wins!

  5. Let me guess. Your alternative great guy is socialist Bernie Sanders. I am a huge, UUGE, Trump supporter. What has emerged in stark relief is the UUGE level of intolerance that permeates the nauseating far left liberals who abound in Vermont, Progs and Dems mostly, who control the equally nauseating PC narrative. What I find peculiar is that Pence would bother to waste his time, money and energy in this pitiful intolerant over-the-top PC swamp. No worries, I am moving out of state after 32+ years. Sick of you all.

  8. The Ghoul returns . . . Pence is just as nauseating as Trump with his deranged, Apocalypse loving brand of Christianity. He should be booed and protested everywhere he goes.

    Ironic that the Trump administration is rolling back methane regulations that will greatly accelerate climate change , yet Pence wants to take a vacation in the Green Mountain state. Pence should go to a coal mine and vacation there instead, as it fits with his greedy personal ethical standards.

  9. Fortunately for Vermont it sounds like Pence is being sent to Poland to replace Trump who wants to stay and control the Hurricane heading for Maralago!

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