Major Southern California freeway closes for military live-fire event attended by Vance

The 5 Freeway, a major artery in Southern California, had closed for a period estimated at about four hours on Saturday for a live-fire event at Camp Pendleton in northern San Diego County that was being attended by Vice President JD Vance, this despite the U.S. Marine Corps’ previous insistence that the public highway would remain open.

According to California Highway Patrol, the 5 was closed between Harbor Drive and Basilone Road beginning at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. The closure was expected to last until 3 p.m. 

About 80,000 drivers daily travel the route, which connects San Diego and Orange counties. Despite initial plans to shut down the entire freeway during that time, the southbound lanes were reopened by noon.

The Amtrak Surfliner train service, a popular rail line Southern California residents frequently use for weekend trips to the beach, was also shut down around midday.

The event, which the Marine Corps calls an “Amphibious Capabilities Demonstration,” was taking place at Red Beach to mark the 250th anniversary of the military branch. Vance, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, appeared at the celebration. When CBS News Los Angeles reached out to Vance’s office for comment, it was referred to the Marine Corps. 

In its initial announcement, the Marine Corps said “no public highways or transportation routes will be closed” on Saturday. The service branch had framed the festivities as “training events” in a news release issued earlier in the week, stating that the activities ensure its servicemembers’ “readiness to defend the homeland.”

In a follow-up statement Saturday, the Marine Corps said it “did not request the closure of the I-5.”

“We appreciate the public’s patience as Marines and Sailors conduct realistic training during today’s historic Amphibious Capabilities Demonstration, showcasing the strength and unity of the Navy-Marine Corps team and ensuring we remain ready to defend the Homeland and our Nation’s interests abroad,” the Marine Corps said.   

In a statement, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said the federal government informed the state that live munitions will be fired over the freeway around 1:30 p.m. local time. The decision to close the 5 Freeway was recommended by traffic safety experts at the CHP, who cited “extreme life safety risk and distraction to drivers, including sudden unexpected and loud explosions,” the statement said.

Newsom called Saturday’s Marine Corps event an “absurd show of force” from President Trump’s administration.

“The President is putting his ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety,” Newsom said. “Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn’t just wrong — it’s dangerous. Using our military to intimidate people you disagree with isn’t strength — it’s reckless, it’s disrespectful, and it’s beneath the office he holds. Law and order? This is chaos and confusion.”

Saturday’s events coincide with “No Kings” protests scheduled nationwide, including across Southern California. It’s the second round of No Kings protests, as millions of demonstrators took to the streets in June as part of an anti-Trump movement.