A Southern California man has been arrested and charged on a federal criminal complaint after allegedly posting threatening messages tied to Vice President JD Vance’s summer visit to Disneyland with his family. Federal officials say the comments — which included claims about planted explosives and promises of bloodshed — were made on the official Disneyland Instagram page and have sparked a serious investigation into threats against a public official.
Suspicious Social Media Posts on Day of Disneyland Visit
On the afternoon of July 12, 2025, the same day Vice President JD Vance and his family were at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, a now-deleted Instagram account reportedly posted multiple alarming comments on The Walt Disney Company’s public page. According to a federal affidavit, one comment claimed, “Pipe bombs have been placed in preparation for JD Vance’s arrival,” followed by messages warning of imminent violence and urging a “rise up” against “corrupt politicians.”
Arrest and Federal Charges
Federal prosecutors in the Central District of California took the suspect into custody on January 16, 2026. The 22-year-old Anaheim man, identified as Marco Antonio Aguayo, surrendered his phone and later admitted to investigators that he made the posts, initially calling them a joke. He now stands charged with one count of making threats against the President and successors to the presidency, a federal offense that carries a potential prison term of up to five years.
Law Enforcement Response and Official Statements
The case has involved the U.S. Secret Service, FBI and local police, all contributing to the investigation. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and a top U.S. attorney emphasized the dangers posed by such threats and praised the rapid law enforcement response. Officials also stressed that public safety and the Vice President’s family were not compromised during the 2025 visit, but warned that anonymous online threats will be pursued and prosecuted. Aguayo is scheduled to appear in federal court later this month.
