JD Vance on hand for Marine Corps’ 250th birthday celebration
by Elizabeth Ireland / Times of San Diego / Oct. 15, 2025
Rep. Mike Levin issued a statement Wednesday expressing concern over potential plans to close portions of Interstate 5 this weekend amid reports Navy ships will fire live ordnance over the freeway during the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday celebration at Camp Pendleton.
The closure would affect a section between Orange and San Diego counties, cutting off a major artery serving more than 80,000 daily travelers, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“The 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps is a moment to be proud — to honor two and a half centuries of valor and excellence,” said Levin, who represents north coastal San Diego and South Orange County. “It deserves to be celebrated in a way worthy of their legacy and consistent with their values: honor, courage, and commitment.
“That’s why I am concerned by reports that portions of Interstate 5 could be closed for several hours in both directions on Friday and Saturday to accommodate events tied to anything partisan or political,” he said.
“Even on a normal weekend, traffic along the I-5 corridor is heavy. Long closures would cause significant congestion and real hardship for residents, businesses, and first responders. I hope any such closures can be minimized.”
The Times reported the celebration will include a live amphibious assault demonstration, though it’s unclear whether anything will be fired over I-5.
“This would be an absurd show of force, and totally uncalled for during a government shutdown when members of the military cannot even get a paycheck,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Press Office posted on X Wednesday.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance can find money to launch missiles over the I-5 during a government shutdown, but not a dime for Americans’ health care,” Newsom also posted on X.
The event, titled “Sea to Shore – A Review of Amphibious Strength,” is expected to draw 15,000 attendees. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to attend Saturday and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to speak.
I am truly pleased to read this article because all day long people have been in denial that Executive 47 (aka The Felon) authorized Secretary Hogsbreath to close Interstate 5 from Camp Pendleton to Del Mar for a live fire exercise. I see now the event was planned to show off to an estimated crowd of 15,000, but has since been declared I-5 will not be closed.
From today’s LA Times:
The governor’s office said that it was told that federal authorities were considering closing the freeway and that when no order materialized by Wednesday, state officials began weighing whether to do so themselves. Driving that decision, they said, were safety concerns about reports that Navy ships would fire live ordnance over the freeway onto the base during the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary celebration Saturday.
close for Marine live fire
The Marine Corps insisted that “no highways or transportation routes will be closed” after a detailed risk assessment. Marine Corps and White House officials did not respond to whether live rounds would be shot over the freeway as Newsom’s office warned.
Bottom line: “Marine Corps and White House officials did not respond to whether live rounds would be shot over the freeway as Newsom’s office warned.”