California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom — the likely frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination — is under criticism over a social media post in which he criticized Vice President J.D. Vance’s family during a vacation to Disneyland in California.
According to the Orange County Register, as Vice President Vance, his wife Usha, and their young children arrived at the renowned theme park, some 100 communist protesters gathered outside to jeer the family. Additional demonstrations, largely by older ladies, were conducted in Anaheim when the family explored the region on vacation.
On Saturday, a small throng gathered outside the Grand Californian Hotel, which is near the park and where Vance is thought to be staying, according to local broadcaster KTLA. During the usual anti-Trump rallies, a handful of demonstrators waved Mexican flags.
Even though the visit was not political, some local Democratic officials encouraged their supporters to harass the Vance family on their vacation.
“I’m offended by the visit,” Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento told KTLA. “So many families are being terrorized by the federal government’s policies.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom joined them, tweeting an assault on the family to his 2.3 million X followers.
“Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance. The families you’re tearing apart certainly won’t,” Newsom posted from his official government page.
Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance. The families you’re tearing apart certainly won’t. https://t.co/GjvIUg8I2B
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) July 12, 2025
The liberal claim “families being torn apart” appears to relate to Thursday’s immigration enforcement raid in adjacent Ventura County, when a big group of federal agents conducted an operation at a cannabis farm. Several juveniles who had been forced to harvest marijuana crops on the property were rescued during the operation.
Among the 300 illegal aliens seized during the operation at Glass House Farms was an unidentified man with a history of violent and sexual crimes, including attempted child exploitation.
“This illegal alien was apprehended at the California marijuana facility,” Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott wrote on X, accompanied by a photo of the culprit.
“Turns out he had been sentenced to 7 yrs for kidnapping & attempted rape, w/ a prior conviction for attempted child molestation. And this felon was working at the same farm as 10 kids – one being 14 yrs old.”
Newsom’s post, while celebrated by the far left, has largely generated backlash on social media.
“He’s not returning your underage illegal alien indentured servants to work on your donor’s pot farm, if that’s what you’re asking,” said conservative attorney and activist Will Chamberlain.
“You have been facilitating child trafficking for forced labor, Newscum,” added independent legal analyst Viva Frei. “You’ve got some nerve trying to shame JD Vance for being a father.”
In an X post, Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin brought receipts, pointing out that Newsom is defending illegal aliens who are wanted for having committed violent crimes.
“Kids running from tear gas, crying on the phone because their mother was just taken from the fields. Trump calls me ‘Newscum’ — but he’s the real scum,” Newsom initially wrote on the platform in a post that included a video of several people appearing to run from ICE and border agents who deployed tear gas to dispel protesters.
McLauglin clapped back: “These are the violent monsters @GavinNewsom is defending: this criminal illegal alien was apprehended at the California marijuana facility. He was sentenced to 7 years for KIDNAPPING & attempted RAPE. He also had a prior conviction for attempted child molestation. He was working at the same farm as the 9 unaccompanied children. This is depraved.”
These are the violent monsters @GavinNewsom is defending: this criminal illegal alien was apprehended at the California marijuana facility.
He was sentenced to 7 years for KIDNAPPING & attempted RAPE. He also had a prior conviction for attempted child molestation.
He was… https://t.co/2rVnYTyELr pic.twitter.com/SmcgLHQtm8
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) July 13, 2025
The operation sparked violent clashes with officers and drew several hundred protesters who somehow showed up after immigration agents arrived, KTLA reported.
The immigration sweeps took place simultaneously at around 8:30 a.m., targeting Glass House Farms in Camarillo and another facility about 35 miles north in Carpinteria.
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott posted on X that 10 undocumented minors were discovered at the Camarillo farm, including eight unaccompanied children. He added that Glass House is now under investigation for potential child labor violations.
