JD Vance has pushed back after California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly cri.ticized him for taking a family trip to Disneyland amid heightened immigration enforcement in the area.
Over the weekend, photos and videos of the Ohio senator visiting Disneyland with his wife, Usha, and their two children went viral.
Their visit coincided with a wave of aggressive immigration raids ordered by Donald Trump across Los Angeles.
While the Vance family appeared to be enjoying the park, the trip sparked backlash, not only from protesters but also from Governor Newsom.
The governor posted a sarcastic message on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance. The families you’re tearing apart certainly won’t.”
Newsom’s criticism came as California faced several legal battles, including a controversial federal raid on an illegal marijuana operation that led to the detention of numerous undocumented immigrants.
Vance, however, gave a brief and dismissive response: “Had a great time, thanks.”
Protests followed Vance throughout the visit. Around 150 demonstrators gathered at Disneyland to voice their disapproval of his presence, especially given the ongoing immigration crackdowns nearby in Anaheim.
Signs read messages like “No family vacation while we deal with family separation,” with some protestors even showing up at the Grand Californian Hotel, where the Vance family was rumored to be staying.
The tensions are set against the backdrop of an ongoing feud between Newsom and Trump, dating back to the start of Newsom’s second term in office.
Their clash escalated further in June, when Trump sent in the National Guard — against Newsom’s wishes — to quell increasingly volatile protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Anaheim area, which includes parts of Garden Grove, Orange, and Tustin, has been a hotspot for recent immigration enforcement, prompting accusations of racial profiling in Latino neighborhoods.
Just last week, over 200 suspected undocumented immigrants were detained during a federal raid on a cannabis farm.
Trump gave agents additional authority to arrest nearby protesters, calling them “slimeballs.” However, a federal judge later blocked the order, deeming it unconstitutional.
Orange County officials were informed of Vance’s visit earlier in the week.
County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento told KTLA that the timing was problematic, noting that “trust in government feels fragile right now.”
“I welcome any policymaker to visit, listen, and witness the hard-working immigrant communities that make our county strong,” Sarmiento said.
“I respect the office, but I can’t respect policies that hurt our people.”
