On Saturday, Vice President Vance commemorated the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, paying tribute while stating that the Trump administration aims to redirect military focus towards “discipline, readiness, and faith in each other” instead of “diversity quotas.”
In front of hundreds of Marines and sailors from various units across Southern California, Vance reflected on his four years of service in the Corps, sharing that he “would not be the person I am today” without his Marine experience.
“When officials attempt to mandate diversity quotas or introduce partisan politics into our armed forces, they hinder the Marine Corps’ capacity to excel,” Vance expressed.
“When officials attempt to mandate diversity quotas or inject partisan politics into our armed forces, they jeopardize the Marine Corps’ ability to perform at its best,” Vance remarked.
“That’s why our Secretary of War and the President of the United States strongly oppose that nonsense,” he added.
Prior to his address, US Marines conducted an exercise demonstrating their beach storming capabilities at Camp Pendleton to showcase military strength for Vance.
Vance, who served during the Iraq War, used the occasion to criticize Democrats, specifically pointing fingers at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for the government shutdown.
He assured the Marines that President Trump “is proud of you” and “he cares about you.”
“In spite of the Schumer shutdown, he will do all he can to ensure you receive the pay you deserve,” he told the assembled Marine Corps personnel at Camp Pendleton.
Vance criticized Congressional Democrats further, stating they “want to keep the government shut down even if it means many of you won’t receive your paychecks.”
The vice president humorously suggested, “If we don’t pay our enlisted Marines, every bar in Southern California might go out of business, and we certainly don’t want that.”
With Second Lady Usha Vance by his side, Vance witnessed a live-fire “amphibious assault demonstration” at Camp Pendleton’s Red Beach, as confirmed by the White House.
The planned demonstration, strategically located near the I-5 freeway, spurred a war of words between Vance’s office and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Marine Corps intended to fire 155-millimeter artillery shells over Interstate 5 during a live-fire demonstration for the anniversary, which led to a heated exchange between Newsom and Vance’s office.
Newsom criticized the exercise as “a profoundly absurd show of force that could endanger Californians,” suggesting it was a tactic to intimidate those holding differing views.
He labeled the plan “reckless, disrespectful, and beneath the dignity of the presidential office.”
The governor announced a 17-mile stretch of freeway would be closed from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday due to “potential hazards posed by military actions.”
Vance’s communications director, William Martin, firmly responded, stating, “Gavin Newsom wants people to believe this exercise is hazardous. The Marine Corps insists it’s a standard and safe procedure.”
“If Governor Newsom wishes to oppose the training exercises that prepare our Armed Forces as the premier fighting force in the world, he is welcome to do so,” he remarked.
The state’s closure decision contradicted federal recommendations, which affirmed that Interstate 5 could remain operational.
Newsom indicated that state highway authorities had deemed the live-fire display “an extreme safety threat and a distraction for drivers due to loud and sudden explosions.”
Marine officials countered that M777 artillery had historically been fired during routine training from land-based artillery points west of I-5 into designated impact areas without the need to close the highway.
“Governor Newsom is disseminating false information and inducing fear among Californians for cheap political gain,” criticized Vance spokeswoman Taylor Van Kirk.
A number of high-ranking military officials attended the event at a time when the US military is reportedly enhancing its presence around Venezuela and launching strikes on suspected drug vessels.
Notable attendees included Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and Marine Commandant Eric M. Smith.
Vance arrived in San Diego on Friday evening to participate in the significant anniversary, a milestone he holds in high esteem having enlisted in the Marines post-high school in Ohio and serving four years, which included deployment to Iraq.
He traveled with Second Lady Usha Vance, a native of San Diego, and brought along their three children on the flight to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
In his book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” he reflected on how “the Marine Corps taught me how to live responsibly.”
“In the Marines, my supervisor didn’t just ensure I performed well; he ensured I maintained a clean room, kept my hair trimmed, and pressed my uniforms,” he shared, noting that the Marines “transformed the standards I held for myself.
