A Southern California man faces federal charges after allegedly threatening “bloodshed” at Disneyland during Vice President JD Vance and his family’s visit to the park last summer.

According to a federal complaint first reported by Court Watch on Friday, Marco Antonio Aguayo, 22, left several alarming comments on Disney’s Instagram page on the evening of July 12, 2025, the same day of Vance’s highly publicized trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.

The first comment cited in the complaint said: “Pipe bombs have been placed in preparation for the arrival of JD Vance.”

That threat was followed by another that said: “It is time for us to rise and you will witness it” and was followed by a third warning: “Good luck finding you all in time; tonight there will be bloodshed and we will bathe in the blood of corrupt politicians.”

A man is accused of threatening
A man is accused of threatening “bloodshed” at Disneyland during Vice President JD Vance and his family’s visit to the park last July.

Bloomberg via Getty Images

Authorities were able to identify Aguayo with the cooperation of Instagram’s parent company, Meta, and used records from the California Department of Motor Vehicles along with information from internet provider T-Mobile USA to locate his home address.

According to an affidavit from a Secret Service officer included in the complaint, Aguayo initially denied knowledge of the threatening posts and claimed his accounts had been “hacked.”

After further questioning, Aguayo admitted responsibility for the comments, but maintained that the statements were a “joke to provoke attention and laughter.”

A Southern California man left several alarming comments on Disney's Instagram page on the evening of July 12, 2025, the same day of Vance's highly publicized trip to Disneyland.
A Southern California man left several alarming comments on Disney’s Instagram page on the evening of July 12, 2025, the same day of Vance’s highly publicized trip to Disneyland.

Dania Maxwell via Getty Images

Aguayo was arrested on Jan. 16 and charged with making threats against the president and his presidential successors, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. If convicted, he would face up to five years in federal prison.

Attorney General Pam Bondi called the case “a horrible reminder of the dangers public officials face from deranged criminals who would do them harm” and promised “swift justice” in a statement included in the news release.

Vance and his family’s trip to Disneyland inspired several protests near the park and outside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, where the family was rumored to be staying.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) press team also mocked the former Ohio senator for vacationing in the Golden State, which is frequently embroiled in right-wing criticism of Democratic leadership.

“Tired: destroying California for political purposes,” posted the X account from Newsom’s press office. “Wired: You’ll Visit and Vacation More in California This Year Than Your Home State”.