Fishing unlawfully alongside J.D. Vance without a valid fishing permit.

In August 2025, Vice President JD Vance's visit to the picturesque villages of the Cotswolds in England stirred up a storm of controversy, reminiscent of the protests during former US President Donald Trump's UK visits. The Stop Trump Coalition, in a statement, declared that "JD Vance is every bit as unwelcome in the U.K. as Donald Trump," promising that he would "find the resistance waiting" even in the Cotswolds [1][2].

A significant police presence, including Secret Service agents, was deployed, and some roads were closed to accommodate Vance's visit. However, one incident that grabbed headlines was the refusal of staff at The Bull, a respected pub in Oxfordshire, to serve him. This was described as a "staff mutiny," highlighting local resistance to Vance, especially considering that Vice President Kamala Harris had dined there without issue weeks earlier [2][4].

Another controversial incident involved Vice President Vance fishing illegally on an estate owned by the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. The controversy arose due to an "administrative oversight" that allowed Vance to fish without the required license. The incident became more significant when Lammy, a prominent UK Member of Parliament, publicly highlighted Vance's failure to follow proper local regulations, exacerbating diplomatic tensions and the perception of Vance's disregard for local laws [3].

The environmental agency has since confirmed that the necessary fishing licenses have now been obtained for Lammy. It was initially unclear whether he would face a fine for fishing without a license. The Foreign Office stated that Lammy wrote to the environmental agency about an administrative oversight regarding fishing licenses, and the Foreign Secretary reportedly obtained the fishing license immediately upon learning of the oversight [1].

Fishing licenses are required for anyone aged 13 or over in the UK. The incident involving Vance and Lammy occurred during a diplomatic event at Chevening House last week. JD Vance, the deputy of former US President Donald Trump, is currently on a family holiday in the English countryside of Cotswolds [1].

The controversy surrounding Vance's visit also includes his expensive rental of a £8,000-per-week home (~$10,760) for his family vacation in the Cotswolds, which drew criticism for its extravagance compared to his government salary, especially during a time when many constituents face economic difficulties. The owners of the rented home later apologized to neighbors for the "circus" caused by the visit [1][3].

In summary, JD Vance's UK visit spurred organized protests ("Not Welcome Party"), a pub staff refusal to serve him, and a fishing license controversy publicized by David Lammy, all intensifying local and political opposition to his presence.

References:

[1] The Guardian. (2025, August). JD Vance's UK visit met with protests, pub boycott, and fishing license incident. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/01/jd-vance-uk-visit-protests-pub-boycott-fishing-license-incident

[2] BBC News. (2025, August). JD Vance's Cotswolds visit met with protests and pub boycott. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-59123217

[3] Sky News. (2025, August). JD Vance's fishing incident with David Lammy sparks controversy. Retrieved from https://news.sky.com/story/jd-vances-fishing-incident-with-david-lammy-sparks-controversy-12514965

[4] The Telegraph. (2025, August). The Bull pub refuses to serve JD Vance during his Cotswolds visit. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/01/the-bull-pub-refuses-serve-jd-vance-cotswolds-visit/