US Vice President Vance Celebrates 250th US Marine Corps Anniversary With Largest Amphibious Demonstration in Decades Amid California Controversy

Vice President JD Vance celebrated the 250th anniversary of the US Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, California, with a large-scale amphibious and live-fire demonstration involving fighter jets, naval vessels, helicopters, and artillery. The event, the largest such demonstration in the continental US in a decade, led to controversy as California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the live-fire exercise for closing a section of Interstate 5 and posing a safety risk to drivers due to loud explosions. Vance's office disputed Newsom's claims, defending the exercise as a routine and safe military training essential for maintaining a lethal fighting force. Vance, a former Marine who served in Iraq, praised his military service and criticized previous military diversity initiatives, emphasizing shared purpose over diversity as the strength of the Corps. The celebration coincided with the Trump administration's renewed focus on military strength and professional standards, reflecting broader debates on military culture and readiness. The event also sparked partisan debate over public safety and military training practices in California.