Vice President Vance's Disneyland Visit Draws Scrutiny Amidst "War Zone" Remarks on California

Vice President J.D. Vance faced swift criticism recently after being spotted at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, just days after he publicly described parts of the state as a "war zone." The visit, with his wife and children, as highlighted by social media user "Brown Eyed Susan" in a widely shared tweet, sparked accusations of hypocrisy from California officials and residents.

Vance's "war zone" comments stemmed from a late June 2025 visit to Los Angeles, where he addressed ongoing protests and federal immigration enforcement actions. During his remarks, Vice President Vance stated, "What happened here was a tragedy. You had people who were doing the simple job of enforcing the law and they had rioters egged on by the governor and the mayor, making it harder for them to do their job. That is disgraceful." He and the Trump administration have deployed thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles, asserting their necessity despite a calming of protests.

The Vice President's family trip to "The Happiest Place on Earth" in Anaheim, Orange County, occurred shortly after these contentious statements. Reports indicate that over 100 protesters gathered outside the Grand Californian Hotel, where the Vance family was believed to be staying, demonstrating against the Trump administration's immigration policies. A smaller crowd continued protests on Saturday, with some park operations reportedly adjusted for the Vance family's privacy.

California Governor Gavin Newsom was among the prominent figures to publicly rebuke Vance's visit. In a Saturday X post, Newsom wrote, > "Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance. The families you’re tearing apart certainly won’t." Newsom’s press office further emphasized the irony, noting, "35% of Anaheim’s residents are immigrants. Disneyland doesn’t run without them. Enjoy their labor, @JDVance." Orange County District Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento also voiced his disapproval, stating that Vance's leisure trip was "offensive to people in my community" given the ongoing immigration concerns.

The incident underscores the deep political divide between the Trump administration's hardline stance on immigration and California's sanctuary policies, with critics perceiving Vance's actions as a disconnect from the very issues he addressed.