Vice President JD Vance faced protests and criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom while visiting Disneyland with his family this weekend.
Posting a video of Vance and his family at the Southern California theme park, Newsom wrote on X Saturday, “Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance. The families you’re tearing apart certainly won’t.”
Between 100 and 150 protesters gathered outside the gates of the “Happiest Place on Earth” on Friday and Saturday, jeering Vance and his family after news of his visit broke, according to the Orange County Register.
Protests took place in Anaheim while the vice president was in Southern California, a region that has seen several immigration raids in recent months.
On Saturday, a small group also gathered at the Grand Californian Hotel next to the park, where Vance is believed to be staying, according to KTLA.
Some protesters waved Mexican flags during the demonstration.
JD Vance’s trip to Disneyland with his wife, Usha, and at least two of their children was a private family visit, not a political event.
The visit occurred just one day after two significant ICE raids on farms in Ventura County, where approximately 200 suspected undocumented immigrants were detained by federal agents.
According to Fox 11, one person died following the raids, several others were critically injured, and some remain unaccounted for.
Local Democrats seemed to support the protests aimed at Vance and his family this weekend.
“I’m offended by the visit, because so many families are being terrorized by federal government policies,” Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, a Democrat, told KTLA on Friday.
In contrast, local Republicans urged for dialogue instead of protesting the vice president’s family.
“I believe this is an opportunity for us to cast a wider net instead of throwing stones,” Orange County Republican Don Wagner told KTLA.
“We’ve had concerns about ICE operations in Santa Ana. This could be a chance to engage rather than avoid the issue.”
Vance and his family arrived at John Wayne Airport on Friday, the same day the Second Lady visited Camp Pendleton to read to children of active-duty military members and promote her summer reading challenge.
As of now, there are no verified reports that Usha Vance — the wife of Senator J.D. Vance, who was recently selected as Donald Trump’s 2024 running mate — has spoken to children of serving military members before going to a theme park or made any related public appearances of that nature.
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Vance’s motorcade, accompanied by a large security detail, was spotted in the park on Friday.
A video posted on X captured Vance at Disneyland’s Bayou Country on Saturday morning.
