California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing backlash after criticizing Vice President J.D. Vance and his family during their non-political vacation to Disneyland. As the Vance family visited Southern California, including Anaheim and Disneyland, protests erupted—some coordinated by local Democratic officials. Demonstrators jeered the family, waved Mexican flags, and voiced anger over recent federal immigration raids.

Newsom tweeted, “Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance. The families you’re tearing apart certainly won’t,” referencing an ICE raid in nearby Ventura County. That operation at a cannabis farm resulted in over 300 arrests, including a violent felon with past convictions for attempted rape and child molestation. Authorities also rescued 10 undocumented minors, sparking child labor and trafficking concerns.

Newsom’s comments, praised by some progressives, were widely condemned online. Critics, including DHS officials and conservative commentators, accused him of defending criminals and downplaying child exploitation. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin highlighted the seriousness of the crimes, accusing Newsom of protecting violent offenders instead of the children found at the site. The controversy has intensified debates over immigration enforcement and political rhetoric.