A sunny summer day at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, took a frightening turn last year when Vice President JD Vance visited the park with his family.
What should have been a fun and private outing quickly escalated into a federal investigation after a 22-year-old man allegedly issued shocking threats of violence online.
The Alleged Threats on Social Media
Marco Antonio Aguayo, a young man from California, reportedly posted chilling messages claiming that pipe bombs had been planted at Disneyland in preparation for Vance’s arrival.
Using the Instagram handle @jesses_andamy, Aguayo allegedly wrote things like, “It’s time for us to rise up and you will be a witness to it,” and concluded with an especially menacing statement: “Good luck finding all of them on time; there will be bloodshed tonight and we will bathe in the blood of corrupt politicians.”
The posts appeared around 6:14 p.m., shortly after Air Force Two landed at John Wayne Airport, at a moment when Anaheim was already experiencing protests related to immigration enforcement.
Immediate Law Enforcement Response
Federal authorities and Anaheim police acted quickly.
Agents from the U.S. Secret Service located Aguayo later that same day and visited his apartment.
Initially, he claimed his account had been hacked, but investigators say he eventually admitted to posting the threats himself.
According to the federal affidavit, Aguayo told agents that he had intended the messages as a “joke” to gain attention and laughter, and that he had meant to delete them but forgot.
Authorities then obtained a search warrant to seize and examine his phone and a shared laptop, identifying four Instagram accounts connected to him.
The threatening posts were later removed, and the account itself appeared to be deactivated.
Federal Charges and Legal Consequences
Aguayo now faces a federal felony charge for threatening the president and successors to the presidency—a crime that could carry up to five years in prison.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, emphasized the seriousness of the case:
“We will not tolerate criminal threats against public officials.
We are grateful the Vice President and his family remained safe during their visit.
Let this case be a warning to anyone who thinks they can make anonymous online threats.
We will find you and bring you to justice.”
Despite the threats, Disneyland operations were not disrupted, and no explosives were found.
The Vice President’s Visit and Public Reaction
JD Vance’s visit had not been publicly listed in advance.
It became widely known only after his plane landed, sparking demonstrations outside the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, where the vice president and his family were rumored to be staying.
Vance later spoke about the trip to the Katie Miller Podcast, describing it as a fun experience despite the longer lines for other parkgoers:
“We had the island to ourselves, which was very cool.
I had never been to Disneyland. I thought it was awesome.
Sorry to all the people who were at Disneyland for the longer lines, but we had a very good time.”
Behind the Scenes: A Close Call
While Vance’s family enjoyed the park, the Secret Service was dealing with a far more serious situation than just a crowded theme park.
The case highlights how quickly online threats can escalate and the importance of federal authorities responding to protect public officials and their families.
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