U.S. Marines are set to conduct a demonstration on the California coast to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army, showcasing military strength with Vice President J.D. Vance in attendance.
Vance is expected to speak to troops on Saturday, following a grand military parade in Washington, D.C., that President Trump held to honor this anniversary, which featured substantial armored vehicles.
The White House announced plans to kick off the event with an amphibious assault demonstration using live ammunition at Camp Pendleton’s Red Beach.
This planned exercise, close to I-5, ignited a back-and-forth between Vance’s team and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
According to Camp Pendleton, “all training events will be held in approved areas and will follow established safety protocols.”
The event will feature Navy and Marine Corps operators performing various air, land, and sea demonstrations.
However, Newsom, who may be eyeing a presidential run in 2028, expressed his dissatisfaction. Democrats criticized the event as an “absurd show of force.”
“The President has ignored public safety in favor of ego,” Newsom stated. “Firing live ammunition near a busy highway is not just wrong, it’s perilous. Using military presence to intimidate those who disagree is not a show of strength; it’s reckless and disrespectful. It undermines his office.”
In response, Vance’s office claimed there wasn’t any necessity to shut down the highway.
“Governor Newsom is spreading misinformation to stoke fear and gain political points,” asserted spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk. “Vice President Vance is looking forward to being in California to celebrate with the Marines, who are grateful to continue receiving paychecks because of President Trump’s efforts, despite the Democratic shutdown.”
Several notable military figures were scheduled to attend, as the U.S. military increases its presence around Venezuela and conducts operations against suspected drug smuggling. Among those expected were Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, and Marine Corps Commander Eric M. Smith.
Vance arrived in San Diego on Friday night for the event. This anniversary holds significance for him personally; he enlisted in the Marine Corps right after high school in Ohio and served four years, which included a tour in Iraq.
He traveled with his wife, Usha Vance, and their three children to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
In his book, Hillbilly Elegy, he shared, “The Marines taught me how to live as an adult,” emphasizing how the experience shaped his expectations of himself.
“In the Marine Corps, my superiors ensured not only my job performance but also that my living quarters were tidy, my haircut was neat, and my uniform was pressed,” he noted.
