Gov. Newsom Shuts Down Major Highway Over Marine Corps Anniversary, Blames White House

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom blamed the Trump administration for his own decision to close parts of the Golden State’s interstate Saturday.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth are leading a live-fire demonstration Saturday at Camp Pendleton’s Red Beach to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. The event is a training exercise conducted entirely on approved ranges and will follow established safety protocols, according to a Marine Corps press release. The Marines also confirmed that no highways or public transportation routes would be affected.

Still, Newsom announced Saturday he would close portions of I-5, claiming that “because of the Trump Admin’s plans,” drivers should expect delays on the highway.

“Governor Newsom is spreading Fake News to Californians to fearmonger and score cheap political points,” Vance’s press secretary, Taylor Van Kirk, said in a statement shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF). “Vice President Vance is eager to be in California on Saturday celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Corps alongside United States Marines who, despite the Democrats’ shutdown, will continue to receive pay thanks to President Trump’s hard work.” (RELATED: JD Vance Leads Gavin Newsom In Head-To-Head 2028 Matchup: Poll)

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. https://t.co/hG3EI1FMwT

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) October 15, 2025

The event is expected to draw thousands of Marines, sailors, veterans, and families, but Newsom’s press office on Wednesday amplified reports claiming the White House planned to shut down I-5 for a so-called “vanity parade.”

“Donald Trump and JD Vance think that shutting down the I-5 to shoot out missiles from ships is how you respect the military,” Newsom posted Wednesday, repeating the false media reports. The rumors also falsely linked the supposed closure to the nationwide No Kings protests also scheduled for Saturday.

By Saturday, Newsom’s office continued to insist the demonstration posed an “extreme life safety risk and distraction to drivers.”

VP Vance and Second Lady Usha here on site as demonstrations begin shortly @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/0ncKXOTXS7

— Hailey Grace Gomez (@haileyggomez) October 18, 2025

Following Newom’s announcement, the White House reiterated that neither it nor the Marines had requested highway closures and that the military had made clear there were no public safety concerns related to the event.

“Today is the 250th anniversary celebration of [the United States Marine Corps] at Camp Pendleton in California. But 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,” Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California posted on X. “It’s a disgusting abuse of power. But not at all surprising.”

Newsom’s office did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.

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