Artillery Fire at Vance’s Marine Corps Celebration Sparks Friction With Newsom

The California governor closed portions of Interstate 5 during the event, claiming the artillery fire was a risk to motorists.

Vice President JD Vance speaks at the United States Marine Corps 250th birthday celebration at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif., on Oct. 18, 2025. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Vice President JD Vance celebrated the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary at Camp Pendleton, California, on Oct. 18 in a ceremony that included firing live artillery shells over a major highway and prompted a showdown with the state government.

“I just wanted to say from the bottom of my heart, from one Marine to another, from the Vice President of the United States to the whole Marine Corps, thank you for your service,” Vance said. “We are proud of you and proud of your service.”

Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, visited the base in north San Diego County with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to celebrate the milestone and watch the troops’ display of amphibious vehicles and demonstration of a beach assault. Vance was accompanied by his wife, Usha, and the two watched as the military conducted an air show.

The event sparked controversy between the federal government and the state of California.

The U.S. Marine Corps said on Oct. 15 that it would host a live-fire training exercise at Camp Pendleton for the event, followed by a community “Beach Bash” at Del Mar Beach the same day to celebrate the anniversary.

“All training events will occur on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols. No public highways or transportation routes will be closed,” the statement said.

The announcement sparked media reports that the White House was planning to shut down portions of Interstate 5 in Southern California to accommodate live artillery fire during the celebration. A White House official responded that the Marine Corps was not shutting down the busy highway and that the Camp Pendleton event was “a training exercise.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said his office received notice late on Oct. 17 from event organizers of a request for signs to be posted along Interstate 5 that would read “Overhead fire in progress.” He said state officials near Camp Pendleton also observed live munitions being fired near the freeway in “an apparent practice run.”

U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion's (LCAC) unload equipment onto the beach as U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Ospreys and CH-53 Super Stallions fly overhead during the America's Marines 250 event at Camp Pendleton's Red Beach in Oceanside, Calif., on Oct. 18, 2025. Mario Tama/Getty Images

The governor’s office said federal officials informed it on Saturday morning that live artillery activities were scheduled for 1:30 p.m. local time that day, prompting the state to close a section of the highway for a period of time due to what it called “extreme life safety risk and distraction to drivers.”

The decision was made after recommendations from traffic safety experts at the California Highway Patrol, according to the governor’s office.

The California Highway Patrol ultimately closed a 17-mile portion of Interstate 5 for periods of time during the artillery exercises. Significant traffic delays were reported Saturday morning and early afternoon. No incidents were reported in connection with the artillery fire.

“This is all because of the White House-directed military event, that for the safety of the public, we need to shut down the freeway since they’re sending live ordinances over the freeway,” California Department of Transportation spokesperson Matt Rocco said in a statement.

Newsom said in a statement that “firing live rounds over a busy highway isn’t just wrong—it’s dangerous.”

Marine officials responded by saying the exercise was safe, firing artillery at Camp Pendleton is routine, and that disrupting traffic on Interstate 5 was unnecessary.

Newsom’s decision to temporarily close portions of the highway was met with criticism from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who represents a district east of the base.

“Gavin Newsom—who never served a day in the military—is overruling the best-trained and most-experienced leaders of our Marine Corps and shutting down the main interstate highway in the San Diego region for no other reason than a spiteful publicity stunt and to ruin the occasion,” Issa wrote on social media.

Marines Capt. Gregory Dreibelbis said troops conduct artillery fire at Camp Pendleton nearly every week and that the exercises do not threaten drivers.

“Weeks of deliberate planning and rehearsals ensured success at every phase of execution,” he said in a statement.

William Martin, a spokesperson for Vance, said Newsom was misleading the public about the safety risk.

“If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that ensure our Armed Forces are the deadliest and most lethal fighting force in the world, then he can go right ahead,” Martin said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.