Miscommunication Sparks Tension Between Newsom and Vance

On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom made claims suggesting that the White House had closed parts of a highway during protests against former President Trump, seemingly aiming to target Vice President J.D. Vance.

According to MeidasTouch, which referenced “multiple sources,” the White House was supposed to shut down Interstate 5 to allow Vance to lead what they termed a “vanity parade” marking the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary. Newsom, sharing this information on X, criticized the situation, stating that what was labeled as a “vanity parade” was, in reality, an “irrational show of force.”

“This is an absurd show of force and completely unjust during a government shutdown when military personnel are not even getting paid,” Newsom expressed on X.

William Martin, Vance’s communications director, refuted the claims, asserting that the report was “completely fake news,” clarifying that Interstate 5 remained open and that military personnel were indeed receiving pay despite the ongoing government shutdown.

“The Marines are not shutting down Interstate 5. They indicated the event at Camp Pendleton was merely a training exercise. President Trump is covering the soldiers’ pay, despite Chuck Schumer’s attempts to hold them hostage,” Martin remarked.

The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force plans to conduct a live-fire amphibious capability demonstration at Camp Pendleton’s Red Beach this Saturday to commemorate its 250th anniversary. According to a Marine press release, this event falls under training exercises carried out according to safety protocols, and there won’t be any highway closures at that time.

Despite the pushback, Newsom persisted, accusing Trump and Vance of prioritizing a “vanity parade” over adequately compensating troops. He asserted, “Donald Trump and J.D. Vance think closing I-5 to fire missiles from ships is the way to respect the military. Put your vanity aside and pay our troops instead.”

Polling suggests that Newsom is a frontrunner in the 2028 Democratic primary, establishing himself as a vocal opponent of Trump, often mimicking his speaking style on social platforms. In a previous interview, Vance characterized Newsom as inauthentic, claiming he had attempted and failed to “imitate” Trump.