VP Vance Blasts Newsom's 'Fake News' Over Marine Corps Celebration Shutdown

Paul Riverbank, 10/19/2025Marine Corps celebration sparks political clash between VP Vance and Governor Newsom over safety concerns.

Last week's celebrations at Camp Pendleton – dubbed rather grandly "America's Marines 250: From Sea to Shore" – brought out the big guns, quite literally. The live-fire demonstration wasn't just for show; it represented real capabilities that our Marines employ in defense of national interests. I watched as amphibious vehicles churned through the surf while helicopters buzzed overhead – an impressive display by any measure.

But here's where things got messy. Governor Newsom's office threw a wrench in the works by ordering Interstate 5 closures near the base. His reasoning? Safety concerns about live munitions over a major highway. Makes sense on paper, right? Well, not according to Vice President Vance's team, who basically accused Newsom of playing political theater.

Let's break this down a bit. Vance, who served in the Corps himself, clearly takes this personally. Can't blame him – four years in uniform, including time in Iraq, tends to leave an impression. His spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk didn't pull any punches, accusing Newsom of "fearmongering" and spreading "fake news."

The thing is, both sides are missing the forest for the trees here. Camp Pendleton's been running these kinds of exercises for decades. Their safety protocols aren't exactly new – they're tried and tested. The base's statement about "approved training ranges" and "established safety protocols" isn't just bureaucratic speak; it's backed by years of incident-free operations.

What's really happening here is classic political positioning. Newsom's playing to his base's safety concerns, while Vance's office is defending military autonomy. Meanwhile, 15,000 people showed up to celebrate Marine Corps history, probably not giving two hoots about the political drama unfolding above their heads.

Worth noting: this is all happening against a backdrop of increased military activity around Venezuela and ongoing anti-drug operations. Oh, and let's not forget the government shutdown, though Marines are still getting paid – a point Vance's office hasn't been shy about highlighting.

The real shame? A celebration meant to honor 250 years of Marine Corps service has become just another battlefield in our never-ending political war. Somewhere, I imagine, there's an old Marine Gunnery Sergeant shaking his head at all this nonsense.

But that's politics in 2024 for you – even a birthday party can't escape the gravitational pull of partisan bickering.

What should have been a proud moment celebrating 250 years of Marine Corps heritage has devolved into yet another political skirmish between state and federal leadership. As someone who's covered military affairs for over two decades, I find the timing particularly unfortunate.Last week's celebrations at Camp Pendleton – dubbed rather grandly "America's Marines 250: From Sea to Shore" – brought out the big guns, quite literally. The live-fire demonstration wasn't just for show; it represented real capabilities that our Marines employ in defense of national interests. I watched as amphibious vehicles churned through the surf while helicopters buzzed overhead – an impressive display by any measure.But here's where things got messy. Governor Newsom's office threw a wrench in the works by ordering Interstate 5 closures near the base. His reasoning? Safety concerns about live munitions over a major highway. Makes sense on paper, right? Well, not according to Vice President Vance's team, who basically accused Newsom of playing political theater.Let's break this down a bit. Vance, who served in the Corps himself, clearly takes this personally. Can't blame him – four years in uniform, including time in Iraq, tends to leave an impression. His spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk didn't pull any punches, accusing Newsom of "fearmongering" and spreading "fake news."The thing is, both sides are missing the forest for the trees here. Camp Pendleton's been running these kinds of exercises for decades. Their safety protocols aren't exactly new – they're tried and tested. The base's statement about "approved training ranges" and "established safety protocols" isn't just bureaucratic speak; it's backed by years of incident-free operations.What's really happening here is classic political positioning. Newsom's playing to his base's safety concerns, while Vance's office is defending military autonomy. Meanwhile, 15,000 people showed up to celebrate Marine Corps history, probably not giving two hoots about the political drama unfolding above their heads.Worth noting: this is all happening against a backdrop of increased military activity around Venezuela and ongoing anti-drug operations. Oh, and let's not forget the government shutdown, though Marines are still getting paid – a point Vance's office hasn't been shy about highlighting.The real shame? A celebration meant to honor 250 years of Marine Corps service has become just another battlefield in our never-ending political war. Somewhere, I imagine, there's an old Marine Gunnery Sergeant shaking his head at all this nonsense.But that's politics in 2024 for you – even a birthday party can't escape the gravitational pull of partisan bickering.