Gavin Newsom melts down as Pentagon plans to fire artillery shells over California highway during ‘No Kings’ protest
Gavin Newsom harshly criticized Donald Trump’s plan to fire artillery shells on a California highway as part of a military demonstration to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps.
California’s governor called the plan ‘utterly absurd’ and said it was ‘a show of force that could directly endanger Californians.’
Newsom closed a 17-mile stretch of Interstate 5 between Los Angeles and San Diego on Saturday in response to the move, which caused mass congestion on the highway.
Although the Trump administration said the artillery fire was to celebrate the Marine Corps anniversary, Newsom said it was no coincidence that it was also the day of the anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protests.
“Using our military to intimidate people we disagree with is not forceful; it is reckless, disrespectful, and unbecoming of the office that the president holds,” Newsom told the New York Times.
Newsom, a possible candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, also invoked X to determine the plans, accusing Trump of failing to safely coordinate artillery fire with California officials.
‘It is unsafe for people to drive at high speeds directly under LIVE AMMUNITION on a major highway,’ his office wrote.
‘The White House fails to communicate, puts the public in danger and then tries to blame the Governor for doing the right thing to keep people out of danger, yet again we live in another day of Trump’s authoritarian America.’
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Donald Trump’s plan to fire artillery shells on a California highway as part of a military demonstration on Saturday
The artillery fire was part of a series of demonstrations organized by the U.S. military in California on Saturday to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps.
Marines were seen performing an amphibious capability demonstration near Camp Pendleton, California, on Saturday
Despite Newsom taking issue with Trump’s military display, the White House insisted Saturday that artillery fire from Camp Pendleton was safe.
“Gavin Newsom wants people to think this exercise is dangerous,” William Martin, communications director for Vice President J.D. Vance, said in a statement.
‘The Marine Corps says this is an established and safe practice. Newsom wants people to think this is a ridiculous show of force. The Marine Corps says this is part of routine training at Camp Pendleton.
‘If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that enable our Armed Forces to be the deadliest and deadliest fighting force in the world, then he can go ahead.’
Visually stunning displays included controlled demolitions, large amphibious assault vehicles called Navy Landing Craft Air Pads, and troops conducting sea-to-surface assaults.
Marines were seen taking part in an amphibious assault demonstration at Camp Pendleton in California on Saturday
Controlled destruction using live ammunition seen on California coast
The closure of the highway on Saturday sparked outrage in California, causing delays of nearly an hour and creating huge queues of motorists.
San Clemente City Councilman Mark Enmeier said he remained outraged that the incident “came out of nowhere” and that he was “not informed about it.”
“There was no coordination with local authorities on this issue,” he said.
‘What a great use of funds,’ Joey Abi-Loutfi, a local restaurateur whose restaurant is located off the highway, quipped to the LA Times.
The FAA also closed some of the airspace in the area on Saturday afternoon, and Amtrak also shut down the Pacific Surfliner train near the stopped interstate.
A team of U.S. Navy SEALs steps onto the beach during the America’s Marines 250 event at Camp Pendleton’s Red Beach
Large amphibious assault vehicles called Navy Landing Craft Air Cushions (pictured) also participated in the visually impressive displays.
Newsom claimed the drills endangered traffic, but military officials insisted the drills were safe
Although the Trump administration said the artillery fire was to celebrate the Marine Corps anniversary, Newsom said it was no coincidence that it was also the day of the anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protests.
Newsom’s decision to close the highway on Saturday led to deadlock
Gregory Dreibelbis, spokesman for 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, said the M777 Howitzers were practice fire tested on a nearby beach Friday evening to ensure they were safe.
“M777 artillery pieces have historically been fired during routine training from ground artillery firing points west of I-5 to combat areas east of the interstate within existing safety protocols and without the need to close the route,” Dreibelbis said.
He described the move as an ‘established and safe practice’.
John McKean, Oceanside’s deputy police chief, told the LA Times that although authorities did not expect the artillery fire to affect traffic, he added that the dramatic action could still distract drivers.
‘That doesn’t mean they’ll be hit with explosives or anything like that, just loud explosions that might scare them.’ [drivers when the rounds are] “It’s going to explode because it’s going to last about 15 or 20 minutes,” McKean said.
The artillery fire event in California was attended by Vice President J.D. Vance, who told the Marines in a speech to nearly 15,000 soldiers that the United States “will always need” their “warrior spirit.”
The artillery fire event in California was attended by Vance, who told the Marines in a speech to nearly 15,000 soldiers that the United States “will always need” their “fighting spirit.”
Vance also noted the ongoing government shutdown, telling new members that ‘Schumer Despite the Shutdown, (Trump) will do everything he can to make sure you get paid exactly what you deserve.’
