Topline

California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance over a purported plan to fire live ordnance over the Interstate 5 highway as part of a military anniversary celebration on Friday and Saturday, adding to the escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the California government.

Governor Gavin Newsom speaks to the media.

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According to the Los Angeles Times, the alleged live-fire exercise will be part of an event called “Sea to Shore — A Review of Amphibious Strength,” to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The report added that a media advisory sent by the military said the event will feature a “live amphibious assault demonstration.”

Newsom’s office has purportedly received reports that missiles will be fired from Navy ships off the California coast, fly over the interstate highway and land on a section of Camp Pendleton.

The Times reported that Newsom’s office has received very little information from the federal government about the safety plans for the event, which will coincide with planned anti-Trump “No Kings” marches across the state.

The report added that Newsom is mulling closing sections of the I-5 during the event, which could impact more than 80,000 travelers and cause major traffic.

Vice President JD Vance, who served in the Marine Corps, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are both expected to attend the event.

What Has Newsom Said About The Reported Plan?

In a post on X from his official account, the California governor wrote: “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’s press office also commented on the reported exercise in an X post, saying: “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.”

What Do We Know About Scrapped Plans For A Bigger Celebration?

The Trump administration was reportedly planning a much larger event in San Diego Bay to commemorate the 250th anniversary of both the Navy and the Marine Corps. This event, intended to take place in November, would have featured an air and sea show involving warships and the Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, which first reported on the plans, the Trump administration has called off plans to hold the elaborate event. The report notes that such an event would likely have faced some local pushback and impacted both air and civilian boat traffic in the area. The officials are now exploring new locations for such an event in Florida, the report added.

Tangent

The latest pushback by Newsom comes amid growing tensions between the California Government and the Trump administration on various issues, including Trump’s deployment of military forces in Los Angeles in response to protests against immigration raids. In September, a federal judge in California ruled that Trump’s deployment in Los Angeles was illegal, and other legal battles over similar deployments in Portland and Chicago have continued. Despite this, Trump on Wednesday said he may send National Guard troops to San Francisco next.

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I-5 may be shut down due to concerns over live-fire military event at Camp Pendleton (Los Angeles Times)

Trump is considering sending National Guard to San Francisco (Politico)