Vice President JD Vance and his family encountered significant criticism during a weekend visit to Disneyland, as protesters accosted them outside the Anaheim theme park and liberal commentators took to social media to justify the actions directed at his young children.
The situation escalated after video surfaced showing demonstrators confronting Vance, his wife Usha, and their three kids—ages three, five, and eight—during their visit on Saturday, July 12. Security measures were tightened at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, with added entry restrictions, security dogs inspecting vehicles, and thorough bag checks similar to those at park entrances.
Clara Jeffery, editor-in-chief of the progressive Mother Jones magazine, fueled the uproar with tweets defending those who heckled Vance’s children. She claimed it was important for them to experience the consequences of their father’s choices, likening their experience to children whose parents face deportation. Jeffery also implied Vance had intentionally brought his family to elicit sympathetic media coverage of their negative treatment.
The response to Jeffery’s remarks was immediate and severe. Donald Trump Jr. condemned her comments, questioning what kind of person would say such things about young children. Republican strategist Andrew Surabian went further, labeling Jeffery a “soulless ghoul” over her statements.
Other liberal voices on the Bluesky platform also sided with the demonstrators. Michael Hobbes, a former HuffPost journalist, wrote that children should be made aware of their father’s alleged shortcomings sooner rather than later. Sarah Tuttle, a University of Washington professor, expressed satisfaction upon learning the Vance family was booed. Author Elon Green argued that public protest was likely the only way for the children to learn about negative opinions of their father.
The Vance family’s Disneyland outing included heightened security protocols. Guests at the Grand Californian described delays from restricted entry lanes and required vehicle inspections. The main entrance to the lobby was closed, redirecting guests to side doors with additional screening. Large suitcases that couldn’t go through regular scanners were checked by hand, and a temporary flight ban was instituted over Anaheim during the visit.
Protesters gathered near the intersection of Disneyland Drive and Katella Avenue, causing some street closures. Demonstrations primarily focused on opposing the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which have had deep effects across Southern California. Most of the protest activity remained near the hotel entrance and did not significantly disrupt overall access to the theme park.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also commented on the situation, posting online that while Vance enjoyed time with his family, families affected by immigration enforcement did not have that luxury. Vance briefly replied, thanking Newsom for his message and noting that his family “had a great time, thanks.”
This incident is part of a broader trend of public pushback against the Vance family. Earlier in March, the vice president and his wife were booed at a Kennedy Center concert in Washington, D.C., with some attendees blaming them for the venue’s troubles. The Kennedy Center has experienced turmoil since President Trump took charge of its board of trustees, a move in line with his broader agenda against so-called “woke” culture.
The Vances were also met with protests during a ski trip to Vermont’s Sugarbush Resort, where hundreds gathered along the roads with signs urging Vance to leave and voicing support for Ukraine. These demonstrations took place shortly after a tense White House meeting between Trump, Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which ended with the cancellation of a scheduled press conference.
The Disneyland episode underscores ongoing debates about how prominent political figures and their families are treated in public. Critics of the Mother Jones editor and other left-leaning commentators insisted that children should not be targets, no matter the political disagreements with their parents. The event also raises concerns about the ethics of involving minors in protests and the responsibilities of media figures when discussing children.