Vice President JD Vance and his family took a controversial trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, in July 2025. After news of his family trip broke, hundreds of protestors gathered near the theme park. One protestor held a sign that read, “No family vacation while we deal with family separation,” per the Independent.
California Governor Gavin Newsom took to social media to criticize JD Vance for his trip amid ICE raids targeting immigrants in California. Sharing a video on X of Vance and his family at Disneyland, Newsom wrote, “Hope you enjoy your family time,@JDVance. The families you’re tearing apart certainly won’t.” In response, Vance wrote, “Had a great time, thanks.” Vance and his family reportedly enjoyed Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Tom Sawyer’s Island during their Disney trip.
Protesters outside the Grand Californian Hotel at the Disneyland Resort where Vice President JD Vance is staying for the weekend. (🎥: @Huntersowards) pic.twitter.com/gUqd8U4IXF
— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) July 12, 2025
In a separate post, Newsom wrote: “JD is back in California. He won’t take the time to debate and defend gutting our Medicaid system, taking away kids school meals, militarizing America’s streets, or adding trillions to the debt. Instead, he’s off to Disneyland. Probably to detain Mickey Mouse at this rate.”
Had a great time, thanks https://t.co/dKKA76mqhd
— JD Vance (@JDVance) July 13, 2025
According to Fox 11, Vance and his family traveled to California for their Disney vacation just a day after ICE raids in California’s Ventura County. ICE agents detained about 200 people during those raids, which also resulted in the death of one farmworker.
Farmworkers in the area told The Guardian that these raids make them feel like they’re being “hunted like animals.” The raids were not the only reason that the timing of Vance’s trip seemed off to critics. Commenting on the vice president’s Disney vacation, one critic on Reddit wrote, “Guess that’s why he’s been too busy to go to Texas.” Floods that hit Texas on July 4 killed more than 100 people.
Vice President JD Vance in Bayou Country at Disneyland pic.twitter.com/Jm6XyQ7L7Q
— Matt (@DisneyScoopGuy) July 12, 2025
Another critic said the trip seemed like a “distraction” or a “publicity stunt.” “Everything is going so well in the country that even the VP and his perfect little family are able to just hop in a jet and take a random vacation to California!” they wrote sarcastically. “America has obviously been made great again!”
Meanwhile, others were confused about why Vance chose to travel to California of all places. “So JD Vance joins his boss in trashing California every chance he gets,” one critic wrote on X. “Yet when he wants to vacation with his kids, JD heads to Anaheim’s Disneyland, not Florida’s Disney World…”
