Table of Contents
- Marine Demonstration Ignites Political Firestorm
- Newsom Slams ‘Absurd Show of Force’
- Nationwide Protests Target Trump Agenda
- Vance Blames Democrats, Pledges Troop Pay
- Public Divided Over Military Display
- Sources
Marine Demonstration Ignites Political Firestorm
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, Vice President JD Vance stood proudly at Camp Pendleton in Southern California as U.S. Marines fired 155-millimeter artillery shells over Interstate 5—a move that quickly escalated into a flashpoint between federal and state authorities.
The live-fire exercise, part of a broader military showcase including Navy SEAL landings, parachute drops, and F-35 flyovers, was billed by the White House as a celebration of America’s 250th birthday and Marine Corps heritage. But critics saw it differently—especially amid a government shutdown and mass protests against the Trump administration’s domestic policies.
Newsom Slams ‘Absurd Show of Force’
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the demonstration as “dangerous” and “an absurd show of force,” accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing patriotism.
“The values Americans cherish are under assault by Trump,” Newsom posted on social media, vowing that California would “peacefully push back against the Trump Administration’s authoritarian takeover.”
State officials claimed they received minimal notice about the live munitions component of the drill—contradicting earlier assurances that no shells would be fired over the freeway. In response, California shut down I-5 for several hours due to safety concerns.
Nationwide Protests Target Trump Agenda
While Vance addressed Marines at Camp Pendleton, thousands took to the streets in Los Angeles, San Diego, and other major cities. Protesters decried what they described as the Trump administration’s “consolidation of power” and erosion of democratic norms.
The juxtaposition—military might on one side, civil unrest on the other—offered a stark visual metaphor for America’s deepening political divide.
Vance Blames Democrats, Pledges Troop Pay
In a speech laced with political overtones, Vance—himself a Marine Corps veteran—praised the troops while attacking Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, dubbing the ongoing government shutdown the “Schumer shutdown.”
“He wanted me to tell each and every single one of you that he’s proud of you… and that despite the Schumer shutdown, he is going to do everything he can to make sure you get paid,” Vance said, referring to President Trump.
The Trump administration has directed the Defense Department to use “all available funds” to pay service members during the shutdown—a temporary fix that excludes hundreds of thousands of other federal workers.
Vance also criticized military diversity initiatives, stating, “It is not our diversity that makes us stronger. It is our common purpose”—a line echoing Trump’s broader cultural messaging.
Public Divided Over Military Display
Reactions from the public were mixed. Larry St. Marie, a 77-year-old Vietnam veteran from San Clemente, attended the event but expressed concern over the nation’s polarization. “It’s crazy why we’re in this position,” he said. “Doesn’t make sense to me.”
Others, like local resident Sara Kennedy, questioned the timing. “It’s frustrating that we’re having to live through this type of time where it seems like peoples’ lives don’t matter, for a show,” she said.
David Nelson, a former Marine captain and attorney, praised Vance’s historical tribute to the Corps but warned against using Marines for domestic law enforcement—a concern rooted in the administration’s earlier deployment of troops during immigration protests in Los Angeles.
Sources
The New York Times: “Vance Flexes the Marines’ Might as Thousands Protest Trump’s Agenda”
