Vice President JD Vance marked the 250th anniversary of the US Marine Corps at an event featuring a live artillery demonstration at Camp Pendleton in Southern California. This demonstration attracted criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who raised concerns about safety, particularly since it led to the closure of a section of a major interstate. Newsom described firing live rounds over a busy highway as “dangerous” and said it posed “extreme life safety risks and distraction to drivers,” citing unexpected explosions.
The Marine Corps characterized the demonstration as the largest of its kind in a decade within the continental US. The event included various military assets, including fighter jets, Navy vessels, and helicopters. Following the event, Newsom’s office reported the closure of Interstate 5 due to safety risks. In response, Vance’s office contested Newsom’s claims, stating that the governor was attempting to incite fear regarding the training exercises.
Vance, who served in the Marine Corps and completed a tour in Iraq, emphasized the importance of military training while addressing a crowd of Marines. He expressed gratitude for his military background and critiqued the current political climate surrounding military diversity initiatives. “Every single person here bleeds Marine Corps green,” he stated, underscoring the unity he perceived among service members.
Additionally, Vance attributed the ongoing government shutdown, lasting nearly three weeks, to Democrats, specifically targeting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. He conveyed a message from former President Donald Trump, emphasizing support for the troops and their compensation during the shutdown, noting that while many federal workers are unpaid, the Defense Department continues to pay its personnel.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c051p3981m4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss