Newsom Condemns Trump's Plan to Launch Missiles at Camp Pendleton
Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday vehemently criticized President Trump's proposal to fire missiles into Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps base in California. This decision came after a tense back-and-forth between Sacramento and Washington, with Newsom initially considering a freeway shutdown due to concerns over live-fire military exercises during the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary. However, federal officials assured the state that the event would not endanger motorists, leading to Newsom's reversal.
The event, titled "Sea to Shore: A Review of Amphibious Strength," is scheduled for Saturday and will feature Vice President JD Vance, a Marine veteran, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Organizers claim the demonstration will include live-fire exercises off the Southern California coast, filmed for a Veterans Day special. Newsom's office described the event as a "pompous display of power" and criticized the White House for a lack of coordination and communication, especially given the ongoing government shutdown.
This incident marks the latest flashpoint in the escalating feud between Newsom and President Trump, whose administration has repeatedly clashed with California over immigration, environmental rules, and federal funding. Trump has vowed to "clean up" cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, and has proposed deploying federal troops in San Francisco, a move Mayor Daniel Lurie called "dangerous political theater."
The stretch of Interstate 5 under discussion carries approximately 80,000 vehicles daily and a closure would have caused significant traffic gridlock. The Marine Corps, however, assured that all exercises would take place on approved ranges, with medical and emergency crews on-site and no civilian transportation routes affected. Despite the resolution, Newsom's office emphasized the absurdity of the situation, especially during a government shutdown, where military personnel cannot even receive their paychecks.
