Newsom’s office has received, but not confirmed, reports that live ordnance will be fired from offshore vessels during the event commemorating the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary.
The event is titled “Sea to Shore — A Review of Amphibious Strength” and will feature Vice President JD Vance.
Newsom’s office said it has received little information about the event or safety plans.
Camp Pendleton advised nearby residents that there would be live-fire training with high-explosive munitions through Sunday, which will result in some roads on the base being closed.
Plans to host that show in San Diego have been called off, the paper reported.
Gov. In light of what it claims is a White House-directed plan to use live ordnance during a military anniversary celebration off the coast of Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, where Navy ships are anticipated to fire over the freeway onto the base, Gavin Newsom’s office is considering whether to close portions of Interstate 5 starting Friday.
The Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary celebration will feature live ordnance fired from offshore vessels, according to reports Newsom’s office has received but has not verified. Vice President JD Vance will be speaking at the event, which is called “Sea to Shore — A Review of Amphibious Strength.”.
According to Newsom’s office, it hasn’t heard much about the event or the safety plans. Concurrent with the military display of force are Saturday’s No Kings marches and rallies throughout the state, which are anticipated to attract sizable crowds, protests against Trump, and what detractors claim is government overreach.
Newsom wrote on the social media platform X on Wednesday, “Donald Trump and JD Vance believe that shutting down the I-5 to fire missiles from ships is how you respect the military.”.
A live amphibious assault demonstration will be part of the celebration, according to a military media advisory. The Times’s request for comment was not immediately answered by the Marine Corps or the White House.
A Newsom representative stated, “California always honors our Marines — but this isn’t the right way to go about it.”. The White House should put less emphasis on ostentatious displays of power and more on honoring these soldiers for their service, cutting grocery prices, and paying their military. The federal government’s lack of coordination and communication regarding this incident, as well as the overall effects on our economy and society, is indicative of the greater chaos that is the Trump Administration. “”.
The Marine Corps said in a statement posted on the platform a few hours after Newsom’s X post that closing the freeway would not be necessary for its weekend drills.
The announcement stated that all training exercises would take place on authorized training ranges and adhere to established safety procedures. “There will be no closures of public roads or transit routes. We carried out a thorough risk assessment prior to the training session and demonstration. “”.
The idea of closing a portion of I-5 between Orange County and San Diego County on Friday and Saturday raised concerns because it would cut off a major traffic route that sees upward of 80,000 vehicles per day. From Dana Point in the north to far past Del Mar in the south, there would probably be severe traffic jams if there was an abrupt closure.
California Department of Transportation spokesman Edward Barrera stated on Wednesday that the agency was ready to close a portion of Interstate 5 for the protection of California drivers, citing “potential scenarios shared with us by the federal government.”.
“Drivers should anticipate delays on Interstate 5 and other state routes throughout Southern California prior to, during, and following the event if the federal government requests a closure of the freeway,” Barrera said in a statement.
According to an event media release, 15,000 Marines, sailors, veterans, and their families are anticipated to attend the event on Saturday, which will be attended by Vance, the first Marine veteran to hold the position of vice president. Vance will be joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in making remarks.
Some of the base’s roads will be closed through Sunday due to live-fire training using high-explosive munitions, Camp Pendleton informed the immediate community.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Trump administration had previously planned a significant celebration for the 250th anniversary of the Navy and Marines next month, which would have included an air and sea show with the Blue Angels and parading warships, accompanied by President Trump. According to the paper, plans to host that show in San Diego have been canceled.
